CureVac’s Public Market Journey Concludes Following BioNTech Acquisition

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The curtain has fallen on CureVac's tenure as an independent, publicly traded entity. The Tübingen-based mRNA pioneer has been formally delisted from the Nasdaq exchange, marking the final step in its acquisition by rival German biotech firm BioNTech. This move closes a volatile chapter for investors, one characterized by significant early promise followed by substantial setbacks. The completion of this process triggers specific consequences for the company's remaining shareholders.

This transaction, valued at approximately $1.25 billion when announced in June 2025, represents more than just the end of CureVac's independence. It also resolves the protracted patent disputes that had long occupied both companies. For CureVac, the deal follows a period of struggle after the failure of its first-generation COVID-19 vaccine candidate in 2021, from which it could not sustainably recover.

BioNTech's acquisition secures valuable mRNA intellectual property and production facilities located in Tübingen. The Mainz-based company's primary focus is on bolstering its own oncology research pipeline. Leadership changes were implemented immediately: CureVac's executive board resigned and was replaced by BioNTech management, including CEO Ugur Sahin.

Final Steps and Shareholder Deadlines

The delisting process was finalized in early January 2026. An internal restructuring on January 6 transferred full control to BioNTech, establishing a new successor entity that replaced the original CureVac structure. This resulted in public shareholders losing their direct equity holdings in the company. Trading was subsequently suspended, with the formal delisting from Nasdaq taking effect on January 16.

For minority shareholders who did not accept the initial exchange offer, special provisions now apply. They will receive the same consideration as tendering shareholders; however, this payout is subject to Dutch dividend withholding tax.

Time is of the essence for affected investors. Those not subject to taxation in the Netherlands face a critical deadline of January 27, 2026, to apply for a potential refund of this withheld tax. The planned deregistration with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will terminate all future reporting obligations, completing CureVac's full integration into the BioNTech corporate group.