In this file photo taken on June 23, 2020 the logo of the biopharmaceutical company CureVac is seen in front of the company's headquarters in Tuebingen, southern Germany on June 23, 2020. / AFP / THOMAS KIENZLE
FRANKFURT: German biotechnology firm CureVac is in talks with large drugmakers about a partnership to help market and distribute its prospective vaccine against the COVID-19 virus, its chief executive told Sueddeutsche Zeitung.
CureVac, backed by Microsoft founder and billionaire Bill Gates, listed on the Nasdaq stock market on Friday, raising $213 million.
Asked whether CureVac was in talks with larger pharmaceutical partners, CEO Franz-Werner Haas told the paper: "Yes. We are in talks. We cannot go it alone."
CureVac which raised funds at the top end of its indicated price range of between $14 and $16 per share, will have further financing rounds going forward, Haas told the paper.
On the cost of a future CureVac vaccine, Haas said 10 euros ($11.8) to 15 euros should be realistic. He did not specify whether that was per dose or per treatment course.
The United States has struck a deal for an experimental vaccine developed by Pfizer and partner BioNTech for about $40 per treatment course. Moderna's prospective two-dose regimen would cost between $64 and $74 per person.
