BioNTech bolsters mRNA pipeline with $1.25bn CureVac acquisition

Shares in BioNTech rose 0.17% at market open on 12 July, reaching a value of $105.64, following the announcement. Credit score: Sean Gallup through Getty Pictures.

BioNTech has agreed to accumulate mRNA specialist CureVac for about $1.25bn, as the large pharma firm amps up its technique to supply most cancers remedies utilizing the modality.

Based on the deal, every CureVac share shall be exchanged for about $5.46 in BioNTech American depositary shares (ADS). This offers an mixture fairness worth of round $1.25bn for CureVac.

The transaction will see BioNTech assimilate its former rival within the Covid-19 vaccine enviornment. The pharma corporations stated the deal will “convey collectively two extremely complementary corporations based mostly in Germany” that may “totally realise the transformative potential of mRNA drugs”.

Shares in BioNTech rose 0.17% at market open on 12 July, reaching a value of $105.64, following the announcement. The pharma firm has a market cap of $25.3bn.

The settlement underscores BioNTech’s technique to turn out to be a dominant participant in mRNA-based most cancers immunotherapies. The corporate has struggled with income in recent times as demand waned for Covid-19-related merchandise. Nonetheless, it might be effectively positioned to harness the oncology market given its robust experience in mRNA expertise – a modality that has already confirmed promise in medical trials.

“BioNTech goals to strengthen the analysis, growth, manufacturing, and commercialisation of investigational mRNA-based most cancers immunotherapy,” BioNTech stated in an announcement accompanying the acquisition.

In July 2024, CureVac streamlined its focus in the direction of oncology after promoting influenza and Covid-19 vaccine growth to GSK in a deal value almost €1.5bn.

That is the second large oncology deal for BioNTech this month, after MSD licensed a bispecific most cancers drug from the corporate in a deal rising to a possible $11bn.

BioNTech’s CEO Ugur Sahin stated: “This transaction is one other constructing block in BioNTech’s oncology technique and an funding in the way forward for most cancers drugs.

“We intend to convey collectively complementary capabilities and leverage applied sciences with the purpose of advancing the event of revolutionary and transformative most cancers remedies and establishing new requirements of take care of varied varieties of most cancers within the coming years.”

BioNTech additionally bolstered its most cancers platform in November 2024 when it acquired oncology biotech Biotheus for an upfront cost of $800m.

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