CureVac announces 'positive' interim data on its COVID-19 vaccine candidate


CureVac has announced some "encouraging" data on its COVID-19 vaccine candidate.
The German company on Monday reported "positive interim data" on its potential coronavirus vaccine, saying it triggered an immune response during a phase one trial, Reuters reports.
"We are very encouraged by the interim Phase 1 data," CureVac CEO Franz-Werner Haas said. "It represents a critical milestone in our COVID-19 vaccine program and strongly supports the advancement of our vaccine candidate."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The company in a statement said during its ongoing phase one study, its vaccine candidate "was generally well tolerated across all tested doses," and it "induced strong binding and neutralizing antibody responses." The immune responses were "comparable to recovered COVID-19 patients," the company also said.
CureVac Chief Technology Officer Mariola Fotin-Mleczek said the initial data shows "a robust and highly efficient immune response," while lead investigator Peter Kremsner called the data "highly encouraging." The company plans to provide further details in the coming weeks, it said.
This experimental vaccine candidate from CureVac is taking the same approach as the ones being tested by Moderna and Pfizer, Reuters notes. CureVac is planning to begin the final stage of testing for its vaccine candidate before the end of 2020.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
September 1 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Monday’s political cartoons include Labor Day picnic, branding strategy, and more
-
What is Tony Blair's plan for Gaza?
Today's Big Question Former PM has reportedly been putting together a post-war strategy 'for the past several months'
-
When does autumn begin?
The Explainer The UK is experiencing a 'false autumn', as climate change shifts seasonal weather patterns
-
Texas declares end to measles outbreak
Speed Read The vaccine-preventable disease is still spreading in neighboring states, Mexico and Canada
-
RFK Jr. shuts down mRNA vaccine funding at agency
Speed Read The decision canceled or modified 22 projects, primarily for work on vaccines and therapeutics for respiratory viruses
-
Measles cases surge to 33-year high
Speed Read The infection was declared eliminated from the US in 2000 but has seen a resurgence amid vaccine hesitancy
-
Kennedy's vaccine panel signals skepticism, change
Speed Read RFK Jr.'s new vaccine advisory board intends to make changes to the decades-old US immunization system
-
Kennedy ousts entire CDC vaccine advisory panel
speed read Health Secretary RFK Jr. is a longtime anti-vaccine activist who has criticized the panel of experts
-
RFK Jr. scraps Covid shots for pregnant women, kids
Speed Read The Health Secretary announced a policy change without informing CDC officials
-
New FDA chiefs limit Covid-19 shots to elderly, sick
speed read The FDA set stricter approval standards for booster shots
-
US overdose deaths plunged 27% last year
speed read Drug overdose still 'remains the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-44,' said the CDC