Science: Our technology
The CureVac approach: unlocking the full potential of mRNA for therapeutic innovation
Messenger RNA (mRNA) is the blueprint of biology, directing protein production to regulate the body’s structure and function. With years of nucleotide analysis, we believe that we have developed unparalleled insight into the endogenous RNA language that will allow us to refine mRNA for therapeutic use.
By optimizing mRNA sequences, we enhance protein expression efficiency while optimizing immune responses—harnessing the potential of mRNA to give a patient’s body the information to produce its own custom-tailored protein and transform treatments for cancer, infectious diseases, and genetic conditions.
Technology
Precision mRNA backbone
We develop each product candidate as a tailored molecular creation, customizing the functional elements of mRNA, including 5’ and 3’ untranslated regions, cap structure, poly-A tail, and the open reading frame, to ensure that our mRNA sequence translates into the ideal levels of protein expression in the body and achieves optimized efficacy in the targeted disease.
Dose efficiency
Our technology is engineered for dose efficiency, aimed to enhance protein expression for strong immune responses even at low doses. This reduces the overall amount of mRNA needed for therapeutic effect, potentially allowing for a better safety profile with less occurrence of treatment-related side effects and enabling the combination of multiple targets into 1 product without impairing tolerability.
Advanced delivery systems
Our proprietary next-generation lipid nanoparticles are tailored explicitly for therapeutic needs, optimizing the delivery of mRNA vaccines and treatments. These advanced delivery systems are designed to improve the stability, targeting, and efficiency of mRNA-based therapies and ensure that they reach the intended cells effectively and safely.
Differentiated cancer antigen discovery
We are focused on discovering novel classes of cancer antigens through advanced omics technologies. This approach leverages the full tumor genome and tumor-specific expression analysis to identify new and unique tumor targets.
Development and manufacturing
A therapy is only as effective as its ability to be produced for the people who need it. That’s why our technology platform is built for flexibility, scalability, and speed. All of our mRNA-based active ingredients for various fields of application are based on identical source materials, enabling us to produce all mRNA using a universal process.
In 2020, we teamed up with Tesla Automation to develop The RNA Printer®, a highly automated end-to-end manufacturing solution for Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)-grade mRNA vaccines and therapeutics that forms an integral part of our oncology strategy. The RNA Printer® is designed to open ventures for personalized mRNA-based cancer therapies.
We consider our manufacturing process an important part of the strategy that allows us to match our flexible and versatile technology platform with equally flexible and versatile manufacturing setups. In house, we currently operate 3 GMP-certified suites with the capacity to supply our clinical programs and support potential early commercialization activities.
Certified at a GMP quality level
Reproducible across multiple production facilities
Standardized across plants
Flexible in the production of new products
We are currently focused on developing off-the-shelf and personalized cancer immunotherapies and non-respiratory and respiratory vaccines for infectious disease. See how we’re putting the science into action.