CureVac, GSK, BioNTech, and Pfizer Resolve U.S. mRNA Vaccine Patent Disputes

CureVac N.V. and its partner GSK plc have reached a settlement with BioNTech SE and Pfizer, Inc. to resolve all pending patent litigation in the U.S. related to mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines. The agreement also provides a framework for resolving patent disputes outside the U.S. once BioNTech’s acquisition of CureVac is finalized.

Here are the key terms of the agreements:

• Financial Compensation: CureVac and GSK will receive a combined payment of $740 million. CureVac will also receive an additional $50 million from GSK for monetizing a portion of U.S. product royalties from their existing license agreement.
• Royalties: CureVac and GSK will be paid single-digit royalties on future sales of COVID-19 vaccines in the U.S.
• Licensing: CureVac will grant BioNTech and Pfizer a non-exclusive license to manufacture, use, import into the U.S., and sell mRNA-based COVID-19 and/or influenza products. This will become a worldwide license upon the closing of BioNTech’s acquisition of CureVac.
• Acquisition Status: The settlement does not change the terms of BioNTech’s planned $1.25 billion acquisition of CureVac, which was announced on June 12, 2025, and is subject to regulatory approval. The acquisition is expected to close in late 2025.

The settlement resolves a dispute that has been ongoing since 2022. It is important to note that while this agreement resolves the CureVac-BioNTech/Pfizer litigation, GSK has stated that it will continue its separate patent enforcement actions against BioNTech and Pfizer in the U.S. and Europe.