BioNTech, the German biotechnology company that developed one of the world’s most widely used COVID-19 vaccines, is closing three manufacturing sites in Germany after efforts to find buyers for the facilities failed.
The closures in Idar-Oberstein, Marburg and Tübingen could affect up to 1,860 jobs, as the company restructures its manufacturing operations following the sharp decline in demand for COVID-19 vaccines.
BioNTech said it had conducted an extensive sales process but was unable to finalize agreements with potential buyers. The company said it had reached agreements with employee representatives on measures intended to mitigate the impact on affected workers, including additional redundancy arrangements.
Shift from COVID-19 vaccines to cancer treatments
BioNTech became globally known during the COVID-19 pandemic through its partnership with U.S. pharmaceutical company Pfizer, with which it developed an mRNA-based vaccine that received early regulatory authorization.
The company has since shifted its strategic focus toward oncology and the development of cancer treatments, while COVID-19 vaccine demand has fallen substantially from its pandemic peak.
As part of its restructuring, BioNTech is also transferring COVID-19 vaccine production to Pfizer. The German sites were put up for sale earlier this year, along with a manufacturing facility in Singapore, but no buyers were found for the three German locations.
The Marburg facility has been an important part of BioNTech’s manufacturing network, including production related to mRNA vaccines and plasmid DNA, a key material used in the development and production of mRNA-based vaccines and cell therapies.
Legal disputes over COVID-19 vaccine patents
BioNTech and Pfizer have also been involved in a series of patent disputes concerning their mRNA vaccine technology.
Several pharmaceutical companies have pursued legal claims relating to intellectual property used in COVID-19 vaccines, adding to the broader legal disputes surrounding the technology developed during the pandemic.
Şahin and Türeci prepare to leave BioNTech
BioNTech co-founders Uğur Şahin and Özlem Türeci have announced plans to leave the company by the end of 2026 and establish a new venture focused on developing next-generation medicines based on mRNA technology.
Their new company, Arife, is headquartered in Mainz and is expected to focus on research, development, production and commercialization of new pharmaceutical products. Şahin and Türeci are expected to remain shareholders in BioNTech.
The changes mark a significant transition for a company that became one of the central players in the global COVID-19 vaccine response and is now seeking to build its future around cancer therapies and other next-generation treatments.
