Despite a number of high profile setbacks in the development of lung cancer vaccines, Boehringer Ingelheim has paid German biotech CureVac €35 M (US$45 M) upfront for exclusive global rights to develop and commercialise its clinical-stage therapeutic mRNA vaccine CV9202, which it plans to investigate in combination with Gilotrif® (afatinib) and chemoradiation in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The deal gives CureVac a third big pharma partner for its RNActive® technology, following prophylactic vaccine deals with Sanofi Pasteur and Johnson and Johnson’s Crucell Holland.