As COVID-19 cases continue to soar in some countries, demand for Pfizer and Moderna’s vaccines is fast exceeding production capabilities, while restrictions placed on AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson’s adenovirus-based vaccines have placed additional pressures on global vaccine rollouts, particularly in Europe. CureVac’s expected entry into the COVID-19 vaccine market may provide a viable alternative and help address vaccine inequality due to its vaccine’s unique properties, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

Mohamed Abukar, MSc, Clinical Trials Analyst at GlobalData comments: “The potential approval of Curevac’s CVnCoV comes at an important time when global confidence in adenovirus-based vaccines has suffered, as both AstraZeneca’s and Johnson & Johnson’s vaccines have been linked to rare blood clots. While CureVac’s delayed approach has led to the company losing ground to Pfizer and Moderna, especially in the US market where it is not thought to be currently seeking approval, the company was able to produce a more stable vaccine.”

In contrast to Pfizer’s BNT162b2, which needs to be stored at -70°C, and Moderna’s mRNA-1273, which requires storage conditions of -20°C, CureVac’s CVnCoV displays increased stability and can be stored in standard refrigeration at 5°C.

Abukar continues, “Without the requirement for ultra-cold refrigeration, CVnCoV can be distributed with greater ease. This allows the vaccine to be delivered to developing nations, many of which are currently expecting significant outbreaks and have not yet had sufficient access to efficacious mRNA [messenger ribonucleic acid] vaccines due to procurement barriers and the logistical and infrastructural issues of ultra-cold storage.”

Additionally, CureVac’s pivotal Phase II/III trial is assessing two doses of 12µg of CVnCoV, significantly lower than Pfizer’s 30µg dose and Moderna’s 100µg dose, potentially allowing for a faster manufacturing speed.

Abukar continues, “The low dosage coupled with favorable storage conditions may meet the current urgent demand for easily transportable, safe, and efficacious vaccines, and could help address vaccine inequality in poorer regions, pending regulatory approval.”

CVnCoV is currently undergoing Phase II/III studies in Europe and Latin America, with a special focus on areas with a high number of variant cases. CureVac aims to publish data from the study in the coming weeks.

Abukar concludes, “However, as the vaccine mainly targets the highly transmissible variants due to the trial’s location, its efficacy may be reduced compared to the other mRNA vaccines.”