Brentford-based GlaxoSmithKline and German biotech firm CureVac have struck a £130m deal to develop next-generation Covid-19 vaccines that target several variants of the virus in one product.

In a joint statement the companies said that they were targeting a launch of the vaccine in 2022.

Great West Road-based GSK, which holds a stake in CureVac, will also help the company manufacture up to 100 million doses of its first generation vaccine - currently in clinical trials - this year.

In the statement, GSK and CureVac said the aim of the collaboration would be to offer "broader protection" against a variety of different variants of the virus and to enable a quick response to those that may emerge in the future.

"The increase in emerging variants with the potential to reduce the efficacy of first generation Covid-19 vaccines requires acceleration of efforts to develop vaccines against new variants to keep one step ahead of the pandemic," they said.

"These next generation Covid-19 vaccines may either be used to protect people who have not been vaccinated before, or to serve as boosters in the event that Covid-19 immunity gained from an initial vaccination reduces over time."

They said it could mean the "potential for a multi-valent approach to address multiple emerging variants in one vaccine".

GSK chief executive Dame Emma Walmsley said: "We believe that next generation vaccines will be crucial in the continued fight against COVID-19.

"This new collaboration builds on our existing relationship with CureVac and means that together, we will combine our scientific expertise… to advance and accelerate the development of new COVID-19 vaccine candidates."