BioNTech

BioNTech was founded in 2008 based on research by Uğur Şahin, Özlem Türeci,{{Cite web |date=13 November 2020 |title=BioNTech's founders: scientist couple in global spotlight |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20201113-biontech-s-founders-scientist-couple-in-global-spotlight |access-date=22 December 2020|work=France 24 |language=en}} and Christoph Huber,{{cite web |title=Prof. Christopher Huber |url=https://investors.biontech.de/christopher-huber |work=BioNTech |access-date=5 August 2021}} with a seed investment of €180 million{{Cite web |author=Chris Edwards |date=2021-09-24 |title=The Triumph of Biotechnology and Private Capital |url=https://www.cato.org/commentary/triumph-biotechnology-private-capital |access-date=2024-12-15 |work=Cato Institute}} from MIG Capital, a Munich-based venture capital firm, the family office of Andreas and Thomas Strüngmann, and the present chairman of the supervisory board, Helmut Jeggle.{{Cite web|title=SEC Filing {{!}} BioNTech|url=https://investors.biontech.de/node/6751/html#toc|page=130|access-date=28 December 2020 |work=investors.biontech.de}}{{Cite news |author=Joe Miller, Clive Cookson |date=2020-12-16 |title=FT People of the Year: BioNTech's Ugur Sahin and Ozlem Tureci |url=https://www.ft.com/content/6633221e-3b28-4a15-b02d-958854644c79 |access-date=2024-08-26 |work=Financial Times}}{{Cite news |author=Ben Stupples |date=2022-03-02 |title=Helmut Jeggle: vom Strüngmann-Vermögen zum eigenen Family Office |url=https://www.capital.de/geld-versicherungen/helmut-jeggle-vom-struengmann-vermoegen-zum-eigenen-family-office |access-date=2024-12-15 |work=Capital}} In 2009, the acquisition of EUFETS and JPT Peptide Technologies took place.{{Citation|language=en|url=https://www.biontech-imfs.de/news-events/news-post/news/eufets-becomes-biontech-innovative-manufacturing-services/|title=Eufets Becomes BioNTech Innovative Manufacturing Services|work=BioNTech IMFS|date=18 September 2017|access-date=11 November 2020}}{{cite web |title=TheraCode to Acquire JPT Peptide Technologies |url=https://www.genomeweb.com/proteomics/theracode-acquire-jpt-peptide-technologies |work=GenomeWeb |access-date=7 December 2020 |date=11 May 2009}}

The company's origins lie in research conducted by Şahin, Türeci, and their teams, who over several decades made progress in addressing challenges using messenger RNA (mRNA) as a therapeutic. Their aim was to utilize mRNA for the development of individualized cancer immunotherapies. They focused on overcoming issues such as mRNA's limited stability in the body, developing formulations to effectively deliver mRNA to target cells, and improving protein production, which was initially low and short-lived.{{Cite news |date=2022 |title=Prize Winners of the Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize 2022 |url=https://www.goethe-university-frankfurt.de/105693888/2022_Karikó_Türeci_Sahin |access-date=2024-12-15 |work=Goethe University Frankfurt}} In 2013, Hungarian biochemist Katalin Karikó, who later shared the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine,{{Cite web |author=Beth Mole |date=2 October 2023 |title=After being demoted and forced to retire, mRNA researcher wins Nobel |url=https://arstechnica.com/health/2023/10/after-being-demoted-and-forced-to-retire-mrna-researcher-wins-nobel/ |access-date=3 October 2023 |work=Ars Technica |language=en-us}} joined BioNTech as a senior vice president. She later stayed an external advisor.{{Cite web |date=9 November 2020 |title=Magyar kutató, hányatatott sorsú szabadalma is kellett a most bejelentett vakcinához |url=https://forbes.hu/uzlet/hanyatatott-sorsu-magyar-szabadalom-is-kellett-a-most-bejelentett-vakcinahoz/ |access-date=22 December 2020 |work=forbes.hu |language=hu |archive-date=26 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126171032/https://forbes.hu/uzlet/hanyatatott-sorsu-magyar-szabadalom-is-kellett-a-most-bejelentett-vakcinahoz/ |url-status=dead }} Karikó discovered that modifying the nucleotide uridine could reduce the immunogenicity of mRNA, making it more suitable for therapeutic use.{{Cite web |author=Piotr Rzymski |date=2023-12-07 |access-date=2024-12-15 |title=The pivotal role of uridine modifications in the development of mRNA technology |url=https://jmsnew.ump.edu.pl/index.php/JMS/article/view/938 |work=Journal of Medical Sciences |language=en}} All of these scientific discoveries were utilized in BioNTech's mRNA-based drug development.

Between 2014 and 2018, research results on mRNA mechanisms were published by BioNTech.{{Citation|language=en |author1=Lena M. Kranz |author2=Mustafa Diken |author3=Heinrich Haas |author4=Sebastian Kreiter |author5=Carmen Loquai |title=Systemic RNA delivery to dendritic cells exploits antiviral defence for cancer immunotherapy|journal=Nature|volume=534|issue=7607|date=16 June 2016|issn=1476-4687|pages=396–401|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27281205/|access-date=11 November 2020|doi=10.1038/nature18300|pmid=27281205|bibcode=2016Natur.534..396K|s2cid=38112227 }} Collaborations and commercialization agreements were concluded with various companies and scientific institutions starting in 2015.{{cite web |author=Nick Paul Taylor |title=Genentech lays $310M wager on BioNTech's mRNA cancer vaccine platform |url=https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/genentech-lays-310-million-wager-biontech-s-mrna-cancer-vaccine-platform |work=FierceBiotech |access-date=7 December 2020 |date=21 September 2016}} In January 2018, BioNTech closed a {{US$|270}} million Series A financing round to further expand the company's immunotherapy research.{{cite web |title=Biontech sammelt Millionenbetrag ein |url=https://www.aerzteblatt.de/nachrichten/104503/Biontech-sammelt-Millionenbetrag-ein |work=Deutsches Ärzteblatt |access-date=2019-12-06 |date=2019-07-10}}

In August 2018, the company entered into a multi-year research and development (R&D) collaboration with the US company Pfizer, Inc. to develop mRNA-based vaccines for prevention of influenza. Under the terms of the agreement, following BioNTech's completion of a first-in-human clinical study, Pfizer would assume sole responsibility for further clinical development and commercialization of mRNA-based flu vaccines.{{cite web |author1=Sylke Maas |author2=John Woolford |author3=Jasmina Alatovic |date=2018-08-16 |title=BioNTech Signs Collaboration Agreement with Pfizer to Develop mRNA-based Vaccines for Prevention of Influenza |url=https://biontechse.gcs-web.com/news-releases/news-release-details/biontech-signs-collaboration-agreement-pfizer-develop-mrna-based |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211208155206/https://biontechse.gcs-web.com/news-releases/news-release-details/biontech-signs-collaboration-agreement-pfizer-develop-mrna-based |archive-date=2021-12-08 |access-date=2022-12-28 |work=BioNTech}}

In July 2019, Fidelity Management & Research Company led a Series B investment round totalling US$325 million, with investments from new and existing investors, including Redmile Group, Invus, Mirae Asset Financial Group, Platinum Asset Management, Jebsen Capital, Steam Athena Capital, BVCF Management and the Strüngmann family office.{{Cite web |author=Nick Paul Taylor |date=2019-07-09 |title=BioNTech raises $325M series B round to advance cancer pipeline |url=https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/biontech-raises-325m-b-round-to-advance-cancer-pipeline |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221228204017/https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/biontech-raises-325m-b-round-to-advance-cancer-pipeline |archive-date=2022-12-28 |access-date=2022-12-28 |work=Fierce Biotech |language=en}}{{Cite web |author=Callum Keown, Lina Saigol |date=2020-12-08 |title=Here are 5 things to know about BioNTech and the married couple behind the COVID-19 vaccine developed with Pfizer |url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/everything-you-need-to-know-about-biontech-and-the-married-couple-behind-the-covid-19-vaccine-at-the-front-of-a-global-race-11605032681 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221229025620/https://www.marketwatch.com/story/everything-you-need-to-know-about-biontech-and-the-married-couple-behind-the-covid-19-vaccine-at-the-front-of-a-global-race-11605032681 |archive-date=2022-12-29 |access-date=2022-12-29 |work=MarketWatch |language=EN-US}} In September 2019, BioNTech received a contribution of US$55 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.{{Cite web|title=BioNTech Announces New Collaboration to Develop HIV and Tuberculosis Programs|url=https://investors.biontech.de/news-releases/news-release-details/biontech-announces-new-collaboration-develop-hiv-and|date=4 September 2019|access-date=27 December 2020|work=BioNTech}} In December 2019, BioNTech received a €50 million loan to finance the development of its patient-specific immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer and other serious diseases, from the European Investment Bank (EIB) as part of the European Commission Investment Plan for Europe.{{cite web|language=en|author= |title=European Investment Bank provides funding of €50 million to BioNTech as part of the Investment Plan for Europe |url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_19_6796 |work=European Commission |date=17 December 2019 |access-date=21 November 2020}}

Since 10 October 2019, BioNTech has been publicly traded as American Depository Shares (ADS) on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol BNTX.{{Citation|language=en|url=https://www.nasdaq.com/market-activity/stocks/bntx|title=BioNTech SE|work=NASDAQ|access-date=12 November 2020}} BioNTech was able to generate total gross proceeds of US$150 million from the IPO.{{cite news |author=Rebecca Spalding, Joshua Franklin |title=Germany's BioNTech raises $150 million in smaller-than-planned U.S. IPO amid market volatility |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-biontech-ipo-idUSKBN1WO29B |access-date=7 December 2020 |work=Reuters |date=9 October 2019}}

{{see also|Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine|COVID-19 vaccine#Clinical trials started in 2020}}

BioNTech initiated "Project Lightspeed" in January 2020 to develop an mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine, just days after the SARS-Cov-2 genetic sequence was first made public.{{cite web |year=2020 |title=Aiming to address the global coronavirus pandemic: Project Lightspeed |url=https://biontech.de/covid-19 |access-date=13 December 2020 |work=BioNTech}} In March 2020, BioNTech partnered with Fosun Pharma for mainland China and the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau and Pfizer for the rest of the world, excluding Germany and Turkey, where BioNTech retained exclusive rights.{{cite news |author=Ludwig Burger |date=15 March 2020|title=BioNTech in China alliance with Fosun over coronavirus vaccine candidate|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/biontech-fosunpharma-vaccine-collaborati/biontech-in-china-alliance-with-fosun-over-coronavirus-vaccine-candidate-idUSL8N2B90UW|access-date=2021-07-22}} Clinical trials began in April 2020 across multiple regions.{{cite web |author=Fabian Schmidt |title=Germany to start coronavirus vaccine trials |url=https://www.dw.com/en/germany-to-start-first-coronavirus-vaccine-trial/a-53211375 |date=2020-04-22 |access-date=2024-12-15 |work=Deutsche Welle}}

Due to the global situation caused by the pandemic and the need for a vaccine, BioNTech received financial support from the European Investment Bank (a €100 million loan in June 2020){{Cite web|title=BioNTech moves to head of pack for COVID-19 vaccine with EU finance|url=https://www.eib.org/en/stories/eu-financing-for-covid-19-vaccine|access-date=2021-06-30|work=European Investment Bank|language=en}}{{Cite journal|date=March 2004|title=EU forks out € 50 million to clean Internet|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s1353-4858(04)00047-9|journal=Network Security|volume=2004|issue=3|pages=3|doi=10.1016/s1353-4858(04)00047-9|issn=1353-4858|url-access=subscription}}{{Cite web|title=BioNTech moves to head of pack for COVID-19 vaccine with EU finance|url=https://www.eib.org/en/stories/eu-financing-for-covid-19-vaccine|access-date=3 February 2021|work=European Investment Bank|language=en}}{{cite web|language=en|author= |title=Investment Plan for Europe: European Investment Bank to provide BioNTech with up to €100 million in debt financing for COVID-19 vaccine development and manufacturing |url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_20_1034 |work=European Commission |date=11 June 2020 |access-date=21 November 2020}} and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (a €375 million grant).{{Cite web |date=15 September 2020 |title=BioNTech to Receive up to €375M in Funding from German Federal Ministry of Education and Research to Support COVID-19 Vaccine Program BNT162 |url=http://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/09/15/2093535/0/en/BioNTech-to-Receive-up-to-375M-in-Funding-from-German-Federal-Ministry-of-Education-and-Research-to-Support-COVID-19-Vaccine-Program-BNT162.html |access-date=3 February 2021 |work=GlobeNewswire News Room}} BioNTech also received €250 million from Temasek Holdings (Singapore) in June 2020 via the purchase of ordinary shares and 4 years convertible notes, but also from other investors through a private placement of mandatory convertible bonds.{{cite news |author=Ludwig Burger |date=29 June 2020 |title=Temasek-led investor group in $250 million vaccine bet on Germany's BioNTech |work=Reuters |location=Frankfurt |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-biontech-placement/temasek-led-investor-group-in-250-million-vaccine-bet-on-germanys-biontech-idUSKBN2400PS |access-date=2 August 2020}}

In November 2020, BioNTech and it's partner Pfizer announced the vaccine's 95% efficacy, and by December, it received emergency use authorizations in the United Kingdom{{cite web |date=2 December 2020 |title=Conditions of Authorisation for Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/940728/Conditions_of_Authorisation_for_Pfizer_BioNTech_COVID-19_vaccine.pdf |access-date=2 December 2020 |work=Government of the United Kingdom |language=en}}{{cite web |date=2 December 2020 |title=UK medicines regulator gives approval for first UK COVID-19 vaccine |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-medicines-regulator-gives-approval-for-first-uk-covid-19-vaccine |access-date=2 December 2020 |work=Government of the United Kingdom |language=en}} and the United States,{{Citation|language=en|title=Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions|url=https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/mcm-legal-regulatory-and-policy-framework/pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine-frequently-asked-questions|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217164953/https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/mcm-legal-regulatory-and-policy-framework/pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine-frequently-asked-questions|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 December 2020|access-date=22 December 2020}} followed by conditional marketing approval in the European Union.{{Cite web|date=21 December 2020|title=Commission approves BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/european-commission-approves-biontech-pfizer-vaccine/|access-date=22 December 2020|work=Politico|language=en-US}} After those steps, the large-scale vaccinations began. In August 2021, thanks to a meteoric rise in its share price, BioNTech's market capitalization briefly exceeded US$100 billion, making it one of the most valuable companies in Germany at that time.{{Cite web |date=2021-08-05 |title=Biontech: An der Börse über 100 Milliarden Dollar wert |url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/finanzen/biontech-an-der-boerse-ueber-100-milliarden-dollar-wert-17471047.html |access-date=2024-09-02 |work=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung |language=de}}

Alongside ongoing development of COVID-19 vaccines, BioNTech expanded its oncology pipeline and drug manufacturing capabilities,{{cite news |author=Elisabeth Dostert |title=Der Boom ist vorbei |work=Süddeutsche Zeitung |date=2024-05-11 |pages=24}}{{cite web |author=Thomas Schulz |url=https://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/mit-ki-gegen-krebs-wie-biontech-zum-zweiten-mal-medizingeschichte-schreiben-will-a-49e25377-fe41-4e5a-8706-5272f27ee47d |title=Wie Biontech zum zweiten Mal Medizingeschichte schreiben will |work=Der Spiegel |date=2024-02-04 |access-date=2024-12-14}} leading to an increasing number of trials in advanced clinical phases.{{cite web |author=Christina Hohmann-Jeddi |url=https://www.pharmazeutische-zeitung.de/biontech-startet-phase-ii-studie-mit-krebsimpfstoff-126428/ |title=mRNA-Vakzine: Biontech startet Phase-II-Studie mit Krebsimpfstoff |work=Pharmazeutische Zeitung |date=2021-06-22 |language=de |access-date=2024-12-14}}{{cite web |author=Jürgen Salz |url=https://www.wiwo.de/my/unternehmen/industrie/biontech-das-wuerde-ein-neues-zeitalter-in-der-krebstherapie-einleiten-/29750834.html |title=Biontech: "Das würde ein neues Zeitalter in der Krebstherapie einleiten" |work=Wirtschaftswoche |date=2024-04-12 |access-date=2024-12-14}}{{Cite web |author=Michael Barck |title=BioNTech: FDA erteilt Breakthrough-Therapy-Status für Krebsmittel BNT323 |language=de |date=2023-12-21 |url=https://www.4investors.de/nachrichten/boerse.php?sektion=stock&ID=174132 |work=4Investors |access-date=2024-12-14}}

The company has formed strategic collaborations and acquisitions to enhance its platform technologies, global manufacturing capacity, and computational drug discovery capabilities.{{cite news |title=Biontech forciert Krebsmittel-Entwicklung |work=Bergische Morgenpost |date=2024-01-23 |pages=9}}{{cite news |author=Siegfried Hofmann |title=Die mRNA-Revolution |work=Handelsblatt |date=2021-08-23 |pages=22}} In 2023, BioNTech acquired InstaDeep, a British AI technology company, to strengthen its AI-driven approach in drug development. BioNTech had been collaborating with InstaDeep since 2019 on cancer drug design and expanded their partnership in 2022 to create an early warning system for detecting SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern.{{Cite press release |title=BioNTech Completes Acquisition of InstaDeep |date=2023-07-31 |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/biontech-completes-acquisition-instadeep-120000812.html |language=en-US |access-date=2023-08-01 |work=Yahoo Finance}}{{cite news |author1=Ludwig Burger |author2=Pratik Jain |author3=Leroy Leo |date=2023-01-10 |title=Germany's BioNTech buys British AI startup InstaDeep |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/biontech-acquire-british-artificial-intelligence-startup-instadeep-2023-01-10/ |work=Reuters}}

In February 2022, BioNTech introduced the BioNTainer, a modular system for decentralized and scalable production of mRNA-based medicines in various locations. The first BioNTainer-based manufacturing site was inaugurated in Kigali, Rwanda, in December 2023, marking BioNTech's first facility in Africa.{{cite news |author=Nicola Meier |title=Alles im Kasten |work=Süddeutsche Zeitung Magazin |date=2024-03-22 |pages=10-23}} That same month, BioNTech announced a partnership with the Australian state of Victoria to build a BioNTainer-based clinical-scale mRNA manufacturing plant in Melbourne.{{cite news |author=Ralf Heidenreich |title=70 Forscher, ein Gerücht |work=Bürstädter Zeitung |date=2023-07-19 |pages=8}}

In 2023, BioNTech entered a collaboration with the UK government to expand access to personalized mRNA cancer immunotherapies in clinical trials, aiming to treat up to 10,000 patients by 2030.{{Cite news |author=Jörg Blech |title=Impfung gegen den Krebs |work=Der Spiegel |date=2023-02-18 |pages=92–94}}{{Cite web |author=Sebastian Balzter |url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/wirtschaft/biontech-auf-britisch-18634656.html |title=Biontech auf Britisch |work=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung |date=2023-01-27 |language=de |access-date=2024-12-14}}

In December 2024, the Chinese biotech company Biotheus, with which a global licensing and collaboration agreement was already in place, was acquired for approximately one billion US dollars. As a result, BioNTech secures full rights to the drug candidate BNT327/PM8002, currently in advanced stages of clinical development.{{Cite journal |date=2024 |title=12 EU-Politik: Kommunale Abwasserrichtlinie |url=https://doi.org/10.5771/2941-0363-2024-12-12 |journal=UmweltBriefe |volume=28 |issue=12 |pages=12–12 |doi=10.5771/2941-0363-2024-12-12 |issn=1866-0037|url-access=subscription }}

{{Location map many

| Germany

| caption = Locations of BioNTech in Germany

| label1 = Mainz

| mark1 = Blue pog.svg

| position1 = right

| coordinates1 = {{coord|49|59|N|8|16|E}}

| label2 = Idar-Oberstein

| position2 = bottom

| coordinates2 = {{coord|49|43|N|7|19|E}}

| label3 = Munich

| position3 = top

| coordinates3 = {{coord|48|08|N|11|34|E}}

| label4 = Berlin

| position4 = bottom

| coordinates4 = {{coord|52|31|N|13|24|E}}

| label5 = Marburg

| position5 = left

| coordinates5 = {{coord|50|49|N|8|46|E}}

| label6 = Halle an der Saale

| position6 = right

| coordinates6 = {{coord|51|28|58|N|11|58|11|E}}

}}

BioNTech's founding place and global headquarters is Mainz, Germany.{{Cite web |url=https://www.allgemeine-zeitung.de/lokales/mainz/nachrichten-mainz/bebauung-der-gfz-kaserne-mehr-platz-fur-biontech_21718961 |title=Bebauung der GFZ-Kaserne: Mehr Platz für Biontech? |work=Allgemeine Zeitung Mainz |date=2020-05-25 |access-date=2020-11-12}} Other sites in Germany are located in Berlin, Halle (Saale), Idar-Oberstein, Marburg, and Munich. The company operates several GMP-certified manufacturing sites across Germany.{{cite web |url=https://biontech.de/our-dna/locations |title=Locations |work=BioNTech |access-date=2022-10-16}}{{cite web |author=Ansgar Kretschmer |url=https://www.pharma-food.de/engineering-projekte/biontech-plant-impfstoff-produktionsanlage-in-afrika-543.html |title=Biontech plant Impfstoff-Produktionsanlage in Afrika |work=Pharma + Food |date=2021-10-27 |language=de |access-date=2024-12-14}}{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-biontech-productio-idUKKBN268126 |title=BioNTech buys German site from Novartis to boost vaccine output |work=Reuters |date=2020-09-17 |access-date=2024-12-14}}

BioNTech also operates international offices and manufacturing sites in Europe (Vienna, Austria; London, England; Cambridge, England),{{cite web|access-date=2023-12-17 |author=Thorsten Schüller |date=2023-01-27 |title=Biontech: Wegen Rahmenbedingungen ab nach England |url=https://www.deutsche-apotheker-zeitung.de/news/artikel/2023/01/27/ab-nach-england |work=Deutsche Apothekerzeitung}} North America (Berkeley Heights, U.S.; Cambridge, U.S.; Gaithersburg, U.S.),{{cite web |url=https://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/unternehmen/pharmaindustrie-biontech-kauft-krebsspezialisten-in-den-usa-a-33f38709-5367-4e95-b758-832bc7a6affe |title=Biontech kauft Krebsspezialisten in den USA |work=Der Spiegel |language=de |access-date=2021-07-19}} Asia (Istanbul, Turkey; Singapore;{{Cite web |author=Nora Menzel |url=https://www.pharma-food.de/engineering-projekte/biontech-uebernimmt-gmp-produktionsanlage-in-singapur-244.html |title=Biontech übernimmt GMP-Produktionsanlage in Singapur |work=Pharma + Food |date=2022-11-14 |language=de |access-date=2024-12-14}}{{Cite web |author=Saheli Roy Choudhury |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/10/biontech-to-produce-mrna-vaccines-in-singapore-new-regional-headquarters.html |title=BioNTech to produce vaccines in Singapore, its new regional headquarters |work=CNBC |date=2021-05-20 |language=en |access-date=2024-12-14}} Shanghai, China), Australia (Melbourne){{Cite web |author=Liam Mannix |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/major-coup-for-victoria-world-leader-to-open-mrna-facility-in-melbourne-20221007-p5bnxb.html |title=mRNA giant wants changes to vaccine regulations to speed up new jabs |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=2022-10-07 |language=de |access-date=2024-12-14}} and Africa (Kigali, Rwanda).{{Cite web |url=https://www.swr.de/swraktuell/rheinland-pfalz/mainz/biontech-ruanda-impfstoff-produktion-100.html |title=Biontech produziert Impfstoffe in RLP-Partnerland Ruanda |work=Südwestrundfunk |date=2023-12-18 |language=de |access-date=2024-12-14}}{{cite web |url=https://www.rnd.de/gesundheit/corona-impfstoff-moderna-will-erste-fabrik-fuer-mrna-vakzin-in-afrika-bauen-YDEONOESKVJNITCX4LDBEOIP4I.html |title=Moderna will seine erste Fabrik für Herstellung von mRNA-Impfstoffen in Afrika bauen |work=RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland |date=2022-03-08 |access-date=2022-03-26}}

The management Board of BioNTech, as of July 2024, is made up of Uğur Şahin (Chief Executive Officer), Annemarie Hanekamp (Chief Commercial Officer), Jens Holstein (Chief Financial Officer), Sierk Poetting (Chief Operating officer), Ryan Richardson (Chief Strategy Officer), James Ryan (Chief Legal and Chief Business Officer) and Özlem Türeci (Chief Medical Officer).{{cite web |url=https://www.biontech.com/int/en/home/about/our-board-members.html |work=BioNTech |title=Our Board Members |access-date=2024-12-14}}

To enhance cancer treatment, BioNTech is developing combinations of multiplatform assets, including targeted therapies, immunomodulators, and mRNA-based therapies, with the aim of creating synergistic effects. By identifying novel cancer-specific or tumor-specific targets and integrating its platforms, BioNTech seeks to improve treatment outcomes across all stages of cancer.{{Cite journal |author1=U. Sahin |author2=E. Derhovanessian |author3=M. Miller |author4=B. P. Kloke |author5=P. Simon |author6=M. Löwer |author7=V. Bukur |author8=A. D. Tadmor |author9=U. Luxemburger |author10=B. Schrörs |author11=T. Omokoko |author12=M. Vormehr |author13=C. Albrecht |author14=A. Paruzynski |author15=A. N. Kuhn |author16=J. Buck |author17=S. Heesch |author18=K. H. Schreeb |author19=F. Müller |author20=I. Ortseifer |author21=I. Vogler |author22=E. Godehardt |author23=S. Attig |author24=R. Rae |author25=A. Breitkreuz |author26=C. Tolliver |author27=M. Suchan |author28=G. Martic |author29=A. Hohberger |author30=P. Sorn |author31=J. Diekmann |author32=J. Ciesla |author33=O. Waksmann |author34=A. K. Brück |author35=M. Witt |author36=M. Zillgen |author37=A. Rothermel |author38=B. Kasemann |author39=D. Langer |author40=S. Bolte |author41=M. Diken |author42=S. Kreiter |author43=R. Nemecek |author44=C. Gebhardt |author45=S. Grabbe |author46=C. Höller |author47=J. Utikal |author48=C. Huber |author49=C. Loquai |author50=Ö. Türeci |title=Personalized RNA mutanome vaccines mobilize poly-specific therapeutic immunity against cancer |journal=Nature |volume=547 |issue=7662 |date=2017 |pages=222–226 |doi=10.1038/nature23003 |PMID=28678784}} For example, the company is developing combination therapies, such as pairing CAR-T cell treatments with mRNA-based vaccines. These vaccines encode target structures that boost CAR-T cell activity and persistence, enhancing the overall treatment effectiveness.{{Cite news |author=Laetitia-Zarah Gerbes |title=Unbemerkter Fortschritt bei Biontech |work=Handelsblatt |date=2023-10-27 |pages=62}}

In November 2023, in an interview to German broadcaster ZDF, BioNTech CEO Uğur Şahin said the company expects a mRNA-based therapeutic cancer vaccine approval by 2030.{{Cite web |title=Krebs-Impfstoffe: Biontech plant Therapieansatz vor 2030 |url=https://www.zdf.de/nachrichten/wissen/biontech-krebs-forschung-impfstoff-100.html |access-date=2023-11-26 |work=ZDFheute |language=de}} BioNTech also announced in May 2024 that it expects to launch its first cancer therapies starting in 2026.{{Cite web |title=BioNTech will 2026 Krebsmedikament auf Markt bringen |url=https://www.tagesschau.de/wirtschaft/unternehmen/biontech-pandemie-gewinneinbruch-krebsmedikament-100.html |date=2020-03-20 |access-date=2023-11-26 |work=Tagesschau |language=de}}

File:Covid19 vaccine biontech pfizer 3.jpg

BioNTech is developing mRNA-based vaccines for a range of infectious diseases with significant global health impact, including COVID-19, malaria, tuberculosis, and mpox.{{Cite web |author=Thorsten Winter |title=Krebs und Infektionen: Neuartige Impfstoffe als Ziel |work=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung |url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/rhein-main/biontech-forscht-an-impfstoffen-gegen-krebs-infektionen-15875983.html |date=2018-11-06 |access-date=2024-12-14}}

During an increase in COVID-19 infections in Taiwan in May 2021 and acute vaccine shortage, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen accused the company of insisting on the deletion of the phrase "our country" during failed contract negotiations on vaccine deliveries.{{Cite web |last=Deutschland |first=Business Insider |date=2021-06-01 |title=Knickt Biontech vor China ein? Taiwans Präsidentin erhebt Vorwürfe |url=https://www.businessinsider.de/wirtschaft/china-soll-einigung-zwischen-biontech-und-taiwan-ueber-impfstoff-verhindert-haben-2021-5-a/ |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=Business Insider |language=de-DE}} However, a contract was not signed even then, when the demand was met.{{Cite news |last=Sander |first=Matthias |date=2021-06-02 |title=Corona-Impfstoff: Helfen Private Taiwan nach Problemen mit China? |url=https://www.nzz.ch/technologie/corona-impfstoff-helfen-private-taiwan-nach-problemen-mit-china-ld.1628285 |access-date=2025-04-08 |work=Neue Zürcher Zeitung |language=de-CH |issn=0376-6829}} This was interpreted by the media as, among other things, weakening the independence of the Republic of China and influencing BioNTech by the People's Republic.{{Citation |title=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung |date=2025-03-09 |work=Wikipedia |url=https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankfurter_Allgemeine_Zeitung |access-date=2025-04-08 |language=de}} Others saw legal reservations as a trigger, since the Chinese company Fosun Pharma already had exclusive marketing rights, which also included the island territory of Taiwan.

Comirnaty BioNTech was criticized at the beginning of 2021 because of the pricing of its COVID vaccine Comirnaty: NDR, WDR and the Süddeutsche Zeitung reported that they had reports with an initial offer to the EU in June 2020 in the amount of 54.08 euros per vaccine dose.{{Cite web |last=Mascolo |first=Georg |date=2021-02-18 |title=Corona-Impfstoff: Biontech wollte 54,08 Euro für eine Dosis |url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/biontech-pfizer-impfstoff-preis-eu-1.5210652 |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=Süddeutsche.de |language=de}} The chairman of the Medicines Commission of the German Medical Association, Wolf-Dieter Ludwig, described the award as "dubious".{{Cite web |last=Ärzteblatt |first=Deutscher Ärzteverlag GmbH, Redaktion Deutsches |date=2021-02-19 |title=Biontech und Pfizer: Ursprungspreis betrug 54 Euro pro Impfdosis |url=https://www.aerzteblatt.de/news/biontech-und-pfizer-ursprungspreis-betrug-54-euro-pro-impfdosis-660d5485-604b-4456-b6d6-7514238859dd |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=Deutsches Ärzteblatt |language=de}}{{Cite web |last=Kroh |first=Peter |date=2021-02-19 |title=Abzock-Vorwurf gegen Biontech und Pfizer |url=https://merkurist.de/mainz/arzneimittelchef-der-aerztekammer-abzock-vorwurf-gegen-biontech-und-pfizer_ppk |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=merkurist.de |language=de}} However, BioNTech explained that 54.08 euros had never been intended as a concrete price for subsequent large-scale deliveries. The cost statement was based on the production processes at that time, before mass production began and the mRNA dosage was determined and reflected the costs at that time. The federal government stated at the price of 54.08 euros that "It was clear to everyone that this was not the real offer, but a water level report".

In August 2021, BioNTech set the price per dose at 19.50 euros, which was justified, among other things, by the necessary adjustments of the vaccine to new virus variants. Critics, on the other hand, claimed that BioNTech was simply using its market dominance to demand higher prices.{{Cite web |title=Preise für mRNA-Impfstoffe steigen - Deutsche Apotheker Zeitung |url=https://www.deutsche-apotheker-zeitung.de/news/artikel/2021/08/04/preise-fuer-mrna-impfstoffe-steigen |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=www.deutsche-apotheker-zeitung.de |language=de}}

• BBV152
• CureVac
• Moderna COVID-19 vaccine
• Novavax COVID-19 vaccine
• Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine
• Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine
• V451 vaccine

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

{{scholia}}

• {{Official website}}
• {{Finance links

| symbol = BNTX

| sec_cik = BNTX

| google = Nasdaq:BNTX

| yahoo = BNTX

| bloomberg = BNTX:US

| reuters = BNTX.OQ

| nasdaq = BNTX

}}

{{Authority control}}

{{coord|49.9878|8.2713|display=title}}

Category:2019 initial public offerings

Category:Biotechnology companies established in 2008

Category:Biotechnology companies of Germany

Category:Companies based in Mainz

Category:Companies listed on the Nasdaq

Category:German companies established in 2008

Category:Medical research

Category:COVID-19 vaccine producers