Hogan Lovells advises CureVac on the acquisition of Frame Therapeutics

The total consideration for the acquisition of Frame Therapeutics is valued at €32 million, payable in CureVac shares. Following a 50 percent upfront payment, the remainder will be split across two project milestone-driven steps.

Founded in 2000 in Tübingen, Germany, CureVac is a global biopharmaceutical company with more than 20 years of experience in mRNA technology and the development and optimization of this versatile biological molecule for medical purposes. 

Frame Therapeutics was founded in 2018 as a privately funded start-up in the Amsterdam Science Park. The company specializes in cancer research, with the goal of identifying innovative neoantigens in various types of cancer for developing highly potent tumor-vaccines.

"Christoph Naumann and his team represented CureVac excellently during the negotiations. With his support we have been able to solve all issues to progress through the transaction in a timely manner", said Dr Achim Loehr, VP Business Development of CureVac NV.

Dr Marco Rau, General Counsel of CureVac, added: "Christoph Naumann and his team fully grasped the complex entrepreneurial strategy underlying the acquisition from the start and enabled fast track legal negotiations in Amsterdam to execute the acquisition."

"We are excited to have been able to accompany CureVac on all legal aspects of this transaction," said Christoph Naumann. "It's been a great pleasure to work with the CureVac team and in particular the legal team led by Marco Rau." 

Frankfurt-based partner Christoph Naumann specializes in M&A transactions; key support was provided by an Amsterdam team led by Senior Associate Bastiaan van Rath.

Hogan Lovells team for CureVac

Dr Christoph Naumann (Partner), Maximilian Broermann (Counsel), Matthias Strecker (Associate) (all Corporate/ M&A, Frankfurt);

Mark Devlin (Counsel, US Capital Markets, Frankfurt);

Bastiaan van Rath (Senior Associate), Danielle du Bois-Buné (Partner), Chantalle Schoegje (Senior Associate), Carola Houpst (Senior Associate), Jennifer Aveling (Associate), Georgi Yavorov Boyadzhiev (Associate) (all Corporate/ M&A, Amsterdam);

Anita de Jong (Partner), Maria Benbrahim (Counsel), Daan Koenrades (Associate) (all Employment, Amsterdam);

Alexander Fortuin (Counsel), Matthijs Dols (Senior Associate) (both Tax, Amsterdam);

Samantha Brinkhuis (Partner), Babette Dol (Associate) (both IPMT, Amsterdam).

CureVac Inhouse Legal

Dr Marco Rau (General Counsel, SVP Legal & Compliance), Magdalena Thole (Legal Counsel, Pharma Law / Corporate Law), Daniel Babka (Senior Legal Counsel, Compliance / Commercial Law), Heike Wagenaar (Senior Legal Counsel, Public Law / Corporate Law)

CureVac Negotiation Lead

Antony Blanc (CBO and CCO), Dr Achim Loehr (VP Business Development), Francois Kerendi (VP Strategic Projects, M&A)