BioNTech has closed its acquisition of CureVac, ending the subsequent offering period and setting up a push to expand mRNA design, delivery and manufacturing.
The subsequent offering period expired at 12:01am Eastern Time on 18 December 2025, the company said.
BioNTech said 195,341,219 CureVac shares, about 86.75 per cent of those issued and outstanding, were tendered.
The company expects to complete a compulsory acquisition of the remaining shares in January 2026 as part of a post-offer reorganisation. CureVac shares will cease trading following the post-offer reorganisation.
BioNTech said the deal will strengthen its mRNA platform. mRNA is a set of genetic instructions that tells cells which proteins to make, used in vaccines and some experimental therapies.
The acquisition supports BioNTech’s oncology strategy, including mRNA cancer immunotherapies and pumitamig (BNT327/BMS986545), a bispecific antibody that targets PD-L1, a protein cancers use to evade immune attack, and VEGF-A, which drives blood vessel growth. The antibody is being developed with Bristol Myers Squibb.
“I want to thank everyone who helped make this transaction a success. It deepens our mRNA technology platform and offers potential to expand the ways we can develop mRNA as a new therapeutic drug class,” said Prof Ugur Sahin, MD, chief executive and co-founder of BioNTech. “With an approved mRNA product and multiple late-stage programmes spanning distinct mechanisms of action, we are advancing a new generation of medicines aimed at delivering meaningful benefits for patients.”
“With this acquisition, the pioneering efforts of two of Germany’s early mRNA firms are being brought together – a synergy of vision and technology. It is no coincidence that both originated in Germany, backed by dedicated long-term oriented family offices with an entrepreneurial spirit such as ATHOS KG and the dievini Hopp BioTech holding,” said Helmut Jeggle, chairman of the BioNTech supervisory board. “This transaction has significant potential to contribute to the country’s innovation agenda to shape, not just follow, the next wave of innovation with global impact.”
Following completion, Prof Ugur Sahin, MD, Sierk Poetting, PhD, and Ramón Zapata-Gomez will constitute the management board of CureVac SE after former members resigned. CureVac will keep existing organisational processes while BioNTech completes strategic, operational and scientific reviews.
BioNTech referred readers to announcements on 26 November 2025 and 3 December 2025 for further details of post-offer steps.
