Boehringer Ingelheim Scraps Lung Cancer Program With CureVac - CureVac (NASDAQ:CVAC)

CureVac NV CVAC disclosed among the COVID-19 vaccine highlights that €465 million oncology partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim had been terminated.
CureVac and Boehringer had been working to develop the mRNA cancer vaccine candidate since 2014, when CureVac received about €35 million upfront and nearly €430 million in promised milestones.
Boehringer decided to pull the plug in June, and the termination will become effective this November.
CVAC did say that a phase 1/2 test in NSCLC with BI1361849 as a combo therapy “is ongoing” and that both companies “are currently assessing options to continue a collaboration on CureVac’s RNA technology platform based on state-of-the-art LNP-based formulations.
Also, Monday, CureVac updated investors on progress for its mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine efforts. Despite a Phase 3 study showing 48% efficacy for its first-generation shot, CureVac continues to push forward with regulatory efforts in Europe.
The strategy is likely centered around individuals aged 18 to 60 because, by CureVac’s admission, data did not support efficacy for pivotal trial participants older than 60.
In the 18 to 60 age group, vaccine efficacy hit 53% against all disease severities and 77% efficacy.
Meanwhile, CureVac is also gearing up efforts to get its second-generation COVID-19 shot into the clinic sometime before the end of 2021.
In preclinical studies, the new generation candidate showed faster response onset, higher titers of antibodies, and stronger memory B and T cell activation than the first vaccine.
CVAC closed Q2 with cash and cash equivalents of €1.36 billion.
Price Action: CVAC shares closed higher by 4.27% at $61.31 on Monday.

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