Curevac CEO Franz-Werner Haas defends himself against criticism of the currently low effectiveness of the corona vaccine.
Tübingen (dpa) - The currently low effectiveness of the corona vaccine from Curevac is wrongly criticized in the opinion of CEO Franz-Werner Haas.
No other vaccine has been tested on so many virus variants, said Haas in an interview with the German Press Agency.
"In fact, it is actually not correct to put the number of the preliminary effectiveness of our corona vaccine and the numbers of the effectiveness of other vaccines next to each other," said Haas.
The study on the corona vaccine candidate CVnCov contained 29 virus variants.
The original virus, the wild type, hardly plays a role anymore.
"The numbers on the effectiveness of the other vaccines would probably look different if their studies had been carried out at a later date."
Curevac announced in a mandatory stock market release on Wednesday that, according to an interim analysis, its corona vaccine had a preliminary effectiveness of 47 percent against Covid 19 disease "of any severity".
The value is significantly higher for the other preparations approved in the EU.
The Tübingen-based company would like to complete the analysis of the data from the final study phase in the next two to three weeks.
Haas was convinced that the effectiveness of the vaccine would change again.
As soon as this has been completed, Curevac will advise the EMA as to whether further data is needed.
The announcement of the preliminary effectiveness had caused a drastic plunge in the share price of Curevac.
Haas said: "In our operational business and also in our liquidity nothing has changed since Wednesday."
The company remains convinced that it will bring its vaccine to approval. According to Haas, even a possibly relatively low effectiveness should not stand in the way. "In view of the pandemic, it can only be said: If there is an effective vaccine, it should also be used." Haas also referred to the numerous developing countries in which little or no corona vaccines are currently available.
Curevac investor Dietmar Hopp continues to believe in the company.
“I am confident that Curevac will be successful,” he told the Heidelberg “Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung” (Friday).
Hopp told the merkur.de portal that he would “definitely stay as an investor.” “I have a firm belief in the company,” he added.
The federal government is also holding on to its stake in Curevac, as the Ministry of Economic Affairs said on Thursday.
Last year, the federal government invested 300 million euros in Curevac through the KfW development bank and, according to KfW, holds a 16 percent share.
The federal government has no influence on the operational business, explained the ministry spokeswoman.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210618-99-42007 / 2
Curevac announcement dated June 17th