CureVac, formerly a cheerleader of the unmodified mRNA approach, is embracing the modified version for its vaccine portfolio, a move that has gone down well with the investment community.

Improvements in generating, purifying, and delivering RNA material, as well as addressing challenges with degradation by enzymes, have made the RNA class more attractive to drug developers.

With a declining share of global R&D and investment, Europe risks the pharmaceutical industry being increasingly molded in the image of others.

Moderna seeks damages for sales of Comirnaty in US and other wealthy countries from 8 March onward, a timeframe driven by Moderna's accessibility pledge. Suit claims Pfizer and BioNTech copied two key features of its mRNA technology for their rival COVID vaccine.