BioNTech and Co-Founders Announce Plan to Pursue Next-Generation mRNA Innovations in Co-Founders-Led New Company as BioNTech Advances Toward Becoming a Multi-Product Company by 2030

Core Viewpoint - BioNTech SE plans to establish an independent company led by co-founders Prof. Ugur Sahin and Prof. Özlem Türeci to focus on next-generation mRNA innovations, while BioNTech sharpens its strategic focus on its late-stage clinical pipeline [1][2][5] Group 1: Company Structure and Leadership Transition - The new company will have distinct resources, operations, and funding options to advance mRNA innovations with disruptive potential [1] - Ugur Sahin and Özlem Türeci will transition to the management of the new company by the end of 2026, with BioNTech's Supervisory Board initiating an executive search for their successors [3] - BioNTech plans to contribute related rights and mRNA technologies to the new company in exchange for a minority stake and other forms of consideration such as milestones and royalties [4][5] Group 2: Strategic Focus and Clinical Pipeline - BioNTech is sharpening its strategic focus on the development and commercialization of its late-stage pipeline, which includes innovative immunomodulators, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), and mRNA candidates [2][5] - The company expects to have 15 ongoing Phase 3 clinical trials in oncology by the end of 2026, with multiple late-stage data readouts anticipated across major cancer types [2] - The plans for the new company will not affect BioNTech's current clinical pipeline, including its COVID-19 vaccine franchise [2]