CureVac Says Its COVID-19 Vaccine Can Be Stored Under Normal Refrigeration

German drugmaker Curevac says its COVID-19 vaccine candidate, CVnCoV, can remain stable for at least three months at 41 degrees Fahrenheit (5 degrees Celsius), making it easier to distribute than some competitors’ vaccines.

This storage temperature would present fewer distribution challenges than the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine that must be kept at an ultra-cold -94 degrees Fahrenheit (-70 degrees Celsius).

But Curevac is not currently among the frontrunners in the race for an approved vaccine as it is not as far along in its trials as competitors, including Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson and Moderna. The company hopes to launch a phase 3 trial by year’s end.