The CureVac Story

It all began with a doctoral thesis and the discovery of the medical potential of the messenger molecule messenger RNA. The end result was prominent investors such as Dietmar Hopp or the Gates Foundation, hundreds of millions in government funding, and the rise to stock market stardom and successful vaccine developer. In between lies a rocky road in search of support.

Biotech entrepreneur Wolfgang Klein experienced the early days himself as CureVac's chief financial officer. He tells the unique and anecdote-rich story on the way to becoming a global company. In the process, he provides insights into a fascinating technology and describes the hurdles for innovation in Germany as a business location. CureVac has nevertheless succeeded: the technology invented in Tübingen is about to revolutionize medicine.

Ingmar Hoerr, the founder of CureVac (based on his doctoral thesis) writes in a foreword: "But the book gains particular relevance by addressing the connection between financing and transformative innovation. Starting in 2005, CureVac was fortunate to have a patient and potent investor on board, Dietmar Hopp, who provided long-term and sufficient funding, thus enabling the development of the RNA technology. The last chapters of the book show quite correctly that this is not a matter of course in Germany - and what the reasons for this are.

Especially appealing is the image of the unicorn. It stands for companies with a valuation in the billions whose transformative innovation is so sustainable that it ensures future prosperity wherever they 'hatch out of the egg' - unfortunately still very rare in Germany. So if you want to join in the discussion about how we can make Germany the 'pharmacy of the world' again, or why there are so few unicorns in Germany, this book is a must-read."

For more information on the financing situation of biotech in Germany,
please visit this website at "Connect Options".

The book could be ordered directly at Campus publisher.