BioNTech co-founders establish new biotech company

“Over the past 18 years, we have built BioNTech from a start-up into a global biopharmaceutical company with a strong and diversified pipeline. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we expanded beyond oncology to develop the first approved mRNA vaccine, helping to protect people worldwide. Today, the company is well positioned to advance its mission and evolve into a commercial multi-product company. None of this would have been possible without the extraordinary dedication of our teams, the trust of our shareholders and Supervisory Board, and the commitment of the partners who have supported us along the way. For us, this is the right time to prepare to hand over the baton,” said Prof. Ugur Sahin, M.D., Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of BioNTech. “At the same time, Özlem and I are ready to become pioneers once again . Our vision has always been to translate our science into meaningful advances for patients, and we see extraordinary opportunities to unlock the next generation of transformative innovations.”

“Over the course of their careers, Ugur and Özlem have established an outstanding track record of innovation. As BioNTech advances multiple late-stage product candidates towards commercialization, we support them in taking the opportunity to apply their strengths and undivided attention to a new venture, dedicated to enabling mRNA-based technologies to reach their full potential,” said Helmut Jeggle, Chairman of the BioNTech Supervisory Board . “We believe that this plan will be additive for both, BioNTech and the new company, as it aims to allow each organization to drive meaningful impact for patients. We look forward to working together with their new company on potential combination therapy approaches, setting the stage for continued success.”

BioNTech co-founders and mRNA technology pioneers Prof. Ugur Sahin, M.D., and Prof. Özlem Türeci, M.D., will establish their third biotechnology company following the foundation of Ganymed Pharmaceuticals in 2001 and BioNTech in 2008. As a next-generation mRNA company, it is aimed at pioneering cutting-edge platform technologies and advancing the research and development of mRNA-based innovations with disruptive potential. To this end, BioNTech plans to contribute related rights and mRNA technologies to the new company on an arm’s length basis in exchange for a minority stake and other forms of consideration such as milestones and royalties. It aims to benefit both companies by providing them with opportunities to collaborate on combination approaches involving their respective product candidates, with the potential to create new complementary or synergistic treatment strategies. A binding agreement is expected to be signed by the end of the first half of 2026 after which further details will be communicated by BioNTech.