Elon Musk in Germany to look into the vaccine

Elon Musk said on Twitter that he was going to Germany this week in thepart of its partnership with the biotech CureVac and the visit of the works of the Tesla factory in Berlin. While the European Gigafactory is not expected until July 2021, the entrepreneur has much more pressing expectations with CureVac, which is currently working on a vaccine for COVID-19.

The CEO's presence of Tesla on the Old Continent should therefore be followed by loan. The man had signed, under the aegis of Tesla, a partnership with biotech to help him in the production of his future "printers." CureVac is working on messenger RNA technology, which could translate as "new code that will be translated in the body into a corresponding protein," CureVac points out.

At present, les vaccins to COVID-19 messenger RNA are leading the way in various tests carried out around the world. CureVac joins the American Moderna Therapeutics, both of which are based on the same research principles. German biotech competes with BioNTech, and the United States had previously tried to negotiate with the company for exclusive rights if the vaccine was successful.

A Tesla / CureVac patent

Elon Musk will therefore take advantage of his visit to Germany to visit his partner. At the beginning of July, they had succeeded together in developing what they call "an RNA bioreactor, which they had protected by patent, claiming to have succeeded in designing a" potentially revolutionary machine.

The latter will aim to achieve the production in large quantities of a vaccine, if it is brought topass phase 1, 2 and 3 tests successfully (which should take months). CureVac reported from its printer a "transportable, automated tool capable of producing several grams of mRNA associated with a lipid nanoparticle, that is to say several hundred thousand doses in a few weeks.

A company public since August 15

Two weeks ago, the company went public on the NASDAQ (rather than the Frankfurt Stock Exchange). This transaction, which was appreciated by investors (+ 250% in the first session), enabled it to recover 180 million euros. CureVac is therefore valued at $ 2.7 billion.

Like Moderna Therapeutics, its work in messenger RNA-based biotechnology is only paying off now. CureVac is not a novice in the sector, however.r. Founded in 2000, the biotech still has no product on the market. Elon Musk’s visit this week will be a sign of confidence and a solid media platform.