Second-Generation mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate, CV2CoV, Demonstrates Improved Immune Response and Protection in Preclinical Study Preclinical study provides evidence for strongly improved immune responses with second-

Second-Generation mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate, CV2CoV, Demonstrates Improved Immune Response and Protection

in Preclinical Study

T BINGEN, Germany/ BOSTON, USA/ London, United Kingdom

- August 16, 2021 - CureVac N.V. (Nasdaq: CVAC), a global biopharmaceutical company developing a new class of

transformative medicines based on messenger ribonucleic acid ("mRNA"), and GSK today announced the publication of

preclinical data investigating immune responses as well as the protective efficacy of CureVac's first-generation vaccine

candidate, CVnCoV, and second-generation vaccine candidate, CV2CoV, against SARS-CoV-2 challenge in non-human primates. The study

assessed cynomolgus macaques vaccinated with 12 g of either the first or second-generation vaccine candidate. Better

activation of innate and adaptive immune responses was achieved with CV2CoV, resulting in faster response onset, higher titers of

antibodies and stronger memory B and T cell activation as compared to the first-generation candidate, CVnCoV. Higher antibody

neutralizing capacity was observed with CV2CoV across all selected variants, including the Beta, Delta and Lambda variants. During

challenge with the original SARS-CoV-2 virus, animals vaccinated with CV2CoV were found to be better protected based on highly

effective clearance of the virus in the lungs and nasal passages. The full manuscript of the preclinical data is available on the

preprint server bioRxiv.

"In this animal model, CV2CoV is shown to

induce broad antibody and cellular immune responses very similar to the breadth of the immune responses observed after infection with

SARS-CoV-2," said Dr. Igor Splawski, Chief Scientific Officer of CureVac. "The current study shows that the immune responses

and resulting protection produced by our second-generation candidate, based on our mRNA technology featuring targeted optimizations, are

substantially improved in non-human primates against both the original SARS-CoV-2 virus as well as the Beta and Delta Variants of Concern

and the Lambda Variant of Interest."

Dr. Rino Rappuoli, Chief Scientist and head of

GSK Vaccines R&D said: "The mRNA technology is a key strategic priority for us, and we are investing significantly in a number

of mRNA programs focused on the collaboration with CureVac. The strong immune response and protection in pre-clinical testing of this

second-generation mRNA backbone are very encouraging and represent an important milestone for its further development."

Within the study, CVnCoV and CV2CoV were

tested in cynomolgus macaques immunized with a 12 g dose of the respective candidate on day 0 and day 28. Induction of innate

immunity was investigated via specific cytokine markers. Adaptive immune responses were assessed based on receptor binding domain

specific antibodies and neutralizing antibodies as well as memory B and T cells. Impact of Variants of Concern and Variants of

Interest on neutralizing antibody titers was tested against the Alpha, Beta, Delta, Kappa and the Lambda variant. Clearance of the

virus in the lungs and nasal passages of the animals was tested following challenge infection with the original virus.

The CureVac-GSK COVID-19 collaboration announced

in February 2021 extends the existing strategic mRNA technology partnership both companies started in July 2020, which focuses on the

development of new products based on CureVac's second-generation mRNA-technology for different targets in the field of infectious

diseases. The optimized mRNA backbone that is being used in this collaboration also has the potential for a multivalent or combination

approach to address multiple emerging variants in one vaccine. Following the current preclinical development of CV2CoV, a Phase 1 clinical

trial is expected to start in Q4 2021.

CV2CoV is CureVac's first candidate based

on the advanced second-generation mRNA backbone currently developed in collaboration with GSK. The vaccine candidate, presently at a preclinical

development stage, is a non-chemically modified mRNA, encoding the prefusion stabilized full-length spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus,

and formulated within Lipid Nanoparticles (LNPs). CV2CoV was engineered with specifically optimized non-coding regions to exhibit improved

mRNA translation for increased and extended protein expression compared the first-generation mRNA backbone. Preclinical studies in different

animal models demonstrate CV2CoV's ability to induce earlier and stronger immune responses. The first clinical trial of CV2CoV is

expected to start in Q4 2021.

CureVac is a global biopharmaceutical

company in the field of messenger RNA (mRNA) technology, with more than 20 years of expertise in developing and optimizing the versatile

biological molecule for medical purposes. The principle of CureVac's proprietary technology is the use of non-chemically modified mRNA

as a data carrier to instruct the human body to produce its own proteins capable of fighting a broad range of diseases. Based on its

proprietary technology, CureVac has built a deep clinical pipeline across the areas of prophylactic vaccines, cancer therapies, antibody

therapies, and the treatment of rare diseases. CureVac had its initial public offering on the New York Nasdaq in August 2020. It is headquartered

in T bingen, Germany, and employs more than 700 people at its sites in T bingen, Frankfurt, and Boston, USA. Further information

can be found at www.curevac.com.

GSK is a science-led global healthcare

company with a special purpose: to help people do more, feel better, live longer. For further information please visit www.gsk.com/about-us.

CureVac Investor Relations Contact

Dr. Sarah Fakih, Vice President Corporate Communications and Investor

CureVac, T bingen, Germany

T: +49 7071 9883-1298

M: +49 160 90 496949

CureVac Media Contact

Anna Kamilli, Manager Communications

CureVac, T bingen, Germany

T: +49 7071 9883-1684

Bettina J dicke-Braas, Manager Communications

CureVac, T bingen, Germany

T: 49 7071 9883-1087

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