Since 2020, GSK and CureVac have collaborated to develop mRNA vaccines for infectious diseases. This partnership has led to promising vaccine candidates for seasonal influenza and COVID-19, currently in Phase 2, and avian influenza in Phase 1, all based on CureVac's proprietary second-generation mRNA backbone. The data generated to date suggest these vaccines have the potential to be best-in-class.
Under the new licensing agreement, GSK will assume full control over the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of these vaccine candidates worldwide. This step aligns with GSK's ongoing investment in vaccine platform technologies, which aims to match the best platform to each pathogen for optimal vaccine development. The adaptable nature of mRNA technology allows for rapid strain changes, making it suitable for emerging and evolving viral pathogens.
CureVac will receive an upfront payment of €400 million and up to €1.05 billion in additional development, regulatory, and sales milestones. They will also receive tiered royalties from the high single to low teens range. The agreement supersedes previous financial arrangements from their prior collaboration, granting CureVac exclusive rights to other undisclosed and preclinically validated infectious disease targets. CureVac retains the freedom to develop and partner mRNA vaccines in other infectious diseases or indications independently.
Tony Wood, Chief Scientific Officer of GSK, expressed excitement about the potential of their flu and COVID-19 programs to set new standards of care. He emphasized GSK's commitment to leveraging its capabilities, partnerships, and intellectual property to advance CureVac's technology and deliver these promising vaccines efficiently. CureVac's CEO, Alexander Zehnder, highlighted the collaboration's role in developing late-stage vaccine candidates and the new agreement's potential to strengthen CureVac's financial and R&D positions. The completion of the new agreement is subject to regulatory and antitrust approvals and customary closing conditions.
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