In a bold move that could redefine the future of mRNA-driven cancer therapies, German biotech giant BioNTech SE announced Thursday its all-stock acquisition of fellow German firm CureVac NV, valuing the clinical-stage mRNA specialist at approximately $1.25 billion. The deal, a strategic fusion of ambition and expertise, is expected to close later this year pending regulatory and shareholder approvals.
With five heavyweight legal teams steering the transaction, the deal reads like a biotech courtroom drama. BioNTech is advised by Covington & Burling LLP, Hengeler Mueller, and Loyens & Loeff, while Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP and NautaDutilh NV represent CureVac.
An mRNA Merger Two Decades in the Making
This isn’t just another headline-grabbing merger. It’s a collision of two biotech juggernauts whose paths have long run parallel in the high-stakes world of mRNA research. BioNTech, headquartered in Mainz, catapulted into the global spotlight as the co-developer—with Pfizer—of the first COVID-19 vaccine authorized in the United States and beyond.
CureVac, based in Tübingen, once a COVID contender that missed the vaccine finish line, pivoted hard toward platform innovation, manufacturing scale-up, and oncology and infectious disease research.
“This transaction is another building block in BioNTech’s oncology strategy and an investment in the future of cancer medicine,” said Dr. Uğur Şahin, BioNTech’s CEO and co-founder.
