CureVac, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, and the European Commission have concluded exploratory talks outlining an Advanced Purchase Agreement (APA) for CureVac’s potential mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine.
 
The envisaged contract with the European Commission is intended to provide all EU Member States with up to 225 million doses and an option for an additional purchase of 180 million doses, to be supplied once CureVac’s mRNA-based vaccine has proven to be safe and effective against COVID-19.
 
CureVac’s mRNA-based vaccine candidate to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection is currently in a Phase 1 clinical trial at different study sites in Germany and Belgium. The aim is to determine the optimal dose as well as to evaluate the safety and immunological profile of the vaccine in humans.
 
CureVac says it’s expecting first results in early Q4 2020. Based on the results of the Phase 1 clinical trial, it plans to initiate a Phase 2b/3 clinical trial also in Q4 2020.
 
Dr. Franz-Werner Haas, chief executive officer of CureVac, commented, “In the current pandemic, we are very pleased to further strengthen the European Commission’s endeavor to provide rapid access to a safe and effective vaccine against the COVID-19 virus across Europe and beyond. Assuming positive results from our ongoing clinical trials and approval from the regulatory authorities, we are fully committed to ensure broad access to our vaccine.”