Britain's GlaxoSmithKline and German biotech firm CureVac struck a deal to develop next-generation vaccines against COVID-19 that target several variants in one product.

In a joint statement on Wednesday, the partners said they were targeting a possible launch in 2022.

GSK will also support the production of up to 100 million doses of CureVac's first generation COVID-19 vaccine candidate in 2021, they said.