BioNTech plans to take over CureVac: What does that mean for Tübingen?

BioNTech plans to take over CureVac: What does that mean for Tübingen?

The news about Biontech's takeover of the Tübingen company CureVac has caused quite a stir. On June 12, 2025, Biontech, based in Mainz, announced that it plans to acquire CureVac. The agreement could make Biontech one of the largest biotech companies in Germany. But what is behind this step?

The purchase price is around $5.46 per CureVac share, which corresponds to a total valuation of around $1.25 billion. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2025, subject to regulatory approvals. A minimum acceptance threshold of 80% for the takeover offer was also set. Over 36% of CureVac shareholders have already signed agreements to accept their shares, while Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau, which holds 13.32% of CureVac, is expected to be behind the transaction. The federal government is fundamentally positive about the business, which is perceived as a signal for Germany as a location for research and innovation. The research location in Tübingen will remain intact, as CureVac boss Alexander Zehnder emphasized.

Commitment to cancer research

A key goal of this acquisition is to expand the research and development of mRNA-based cancer immunotherapies. Biontech is increasingly focusing on oncology and plans to bring its first cancer drug onto the market as early as 2026. By 2024, spending on research and development is expected to increase to 2.4 to 2.6 billion euros, while investments in Covid-19 research will be sharply reduced. In 2023, research spending totaled around 1.8 billion euros, of which 1.47 billion euros went to oncology.

The takeover could also be important for CureVac's approximately 700 employees, most of whom work at its headquarters in Tübingen. Zehnder explained that there are currently no plans to cut jobs, but job security depends largely on Biontech's decisions.

From the pandemic to new challenges

Biontech itself has struggled with a sharp decline in its sales in recent years. Sales fell from 17.3 billion euros in 2022 to just 3.8 billion euros in 2023. Net profit also fell from 9.4 billion euros to 930 million euros. The decline is largely attributed to falling demand for Covid-19 vaccines. According to current estimates, sales of just 2.5 to 3.1 billion euros are expected for 2024. This development not only affects the company, but also the municipal tax revenues in Rhineland-Palatinate.

The Rhineland-Palatinate Economics Minister praised the takeover as a positive sign and a strengthening of the location. The development through the acquisition of CureVac could not only create new jobs, but also bring about valuable innovations in cancer medicine. Biontech remains optimistic and has, for example, announced a cooperation with Bristol Myers Squibb to develop a cancer drug candidate.

The future of cancer research could change significantly in the coming years - and the takeover of CureVac by Biontech is at the center of it. A good knack for mastering current challenges and setting the course for future success!

For further details on this topic see also Mercury, Process and daily news.