BioNTech founders leave the company

The Mainz-based biotech company BioNTech is about to undergo a significant change in leadership: the two co-founders Uğur Şahin and Özlem Türeci are planning to establish a new independent company that will focus on next-generation mRNA innovations.

The change is to take place by the end of 2026, after the two's current service contracts expire. BioNTech's Supervisory Board has already begun the search for suitable successors to lead the company.

New company for mRNA innovations

The planned new company will focus specifically on the development of new mRNA technologies. BioNTech plans to contribute certain rights and technologies from its own portfolio to the new company.

The aim is to accelerate the development of potentially disruptive mRNA applications. Both companies are to pursue different strategic priorities in the future, but at the same time benefit from each other. With this step, BioNTech aims to increase long-term value for patients and shareholders.

BioNTech continues to focus on oncology

While the founders are preparing the establishment of a new company, BioNTech continues to focus strongly on its oncology pipeline. The company expects several important clinical milestones in 2026, including six data releases from late-stage clinical development programs.

Key programs include:

• Immunomodulators such as the PD-L1/VEGF-A bispecific candidate Pumitamig, which is being co-developed with Bristol Myers Squibb
• several antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs)
• various mRNA-based cancer immunotherapies

For Pumitamig alone, eight global Phase 3 trials are expected to be underway by the end of the year.

Sales decline due to weaker demand for Covid vaccines

BioNTech continues to feel the financial impact of the decline in demand for COVID-19 vaccines.

For the 2025 financial year, the company reported

• 2.87 billion euros in sales
• 1.14 billion euros net loss

Compared to the previous year, turnover fell significantly in the fourth quarter. The main reason for this is the lower sales of COVID-19 vaccines.

At the same time, BioNTech continues to invest heavily in research and development. In 2025, R&D expenditure amounted to around 2.1 billion euros.

Billion-euro reserve secures long-term strategy

Despite the current losses, BioNTech continues to have a very strong capital base.

At the end of 2025, the company had €17.2 billion in cash, cash equivalents and securities. This financial reserve is intended to secure the development of new therapies and possible product approvals in the coming years.

For 2026, BioNTech expects:

• 2.0 to 2.3 billion euros in sales
• 2.2 to 2.5 billion euros in R&D expenditure

Stock markets react in horror

The planned exit of the two founders marks one of the biggest structural changes in BioNTech's history. Şahin and Türeci founded the company in 2008 and led it to global prominence, in particular by developing one of the first mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines together with Pfizer.

Following the announcement of the news, BioNTech shares plummeted from almost €90 to below €70, losing over 20% of their market value. The published figures are also being viewed with great concern at the Mainz and Marburg sites. In Marburg, more than 300 jobs have been cut at BioNTech. Marburg is currently losing 1500 pharmaceutical jobs across all manufacturers. The figures announced by BioNTech and the withdrawal of the founders pose further challenges for the financially troubled university town.