Boehringer Ingelheim is betting on a cancer vaccine to fight lung tumors after signing a deal worth up to $600 million with U.S.-based CureVac, despite recent disappointments with cancer vaccines from rival firms.
The unlisted German drugmaker said on Thursday it was investing 35 million euros ($45 million) upfront, with CureVac entitled to a further 430 million euros – plus royalties on any eventual sales – if the experimental project is a success.
The exclusive global license and development deal focuses on CureVac’s therapeutic vaccine CV9202, which is in early clinical development.[eap_ad_2]
Unlike preventative vaccines, therapeutic ones are designed for patients who already have a disease but scientists have so far struggled to make the technology work.
In April, GlaxoSmithKline threw in the towel on a lung cancer vaccine in late-stage development following poor results.
Boehringer will investigate CV9202 in at least two different settings, in combination with its drug afatinib and together with chemo-radiation therapy. (Reuters)[eap_ad_3]