BioNTech Founders Launch New mRNA Venture

BioNTech plans to establish a new independent biotechnology company focused on developing next-generation mRNA technologies. The venture will be led by co-founders Ugur Sahin and Özlem Türeci, who will transition into its management by the end of 2026. BioNTech will contribute certain mRNA rights and technologies to the new company in exchange for a minority stake and potential milestone payments and royalties, expecting  about 15 Phase 3 oncology trials by 2026.

BioNTech announced plans to establish a new independent biotechnology company focused on advancing next-generation mRNA technologies. This move will initiate a leadership transition and reshape the company’s organizational structure as it prepares for the next phase of clinical development.

The new venture will be founded and led by BioNTech co-founders Ugur Sahin and Özlem Türeci. Both executives are expected to transition into the management of the new company by the end of 2026, following the conclusion of their current service agreements. The transition will mark a significant shift in the leadership of the Mainz-based biotechnology company, which has evolved over nearly two decades from a startup into a global biopharmaceutical organization.

BioNTech’s Supervisory Board has launched an executive search to identify successors for the chief executive leadership roles. The process aims to ensure continuity and operational stability as the company continues advancing its clinical pipeline and prepares for the commercialization of multiple therapies.

The creation of the new biotechnology company is intended to allow both organizations to pursue distinct strategic priorities. While the new venture will focus on developing next-generation mRNA platform technologies, BioNTech will sharpen its focus on the development and commercialization of its late-stage clinical pipeline, which includes immunomodulators, antibody-drug conjugates and mRNA candidates.

Under the planned structure, BioNTech will contribute certain rights and mRNA technologies to the new company. In return, BioNTech will receive a minority equity stake as well as additional compensation structures that may include milestone payments and royalties. The companies expect to sign binding agreements by the end of the 1H26.

The separation of responsibilities is designed to allow BioNTech to concentrate on bringing multiple therapeutic candidates to market while enabling the new company to advance research into emerging mRNA technologies. Both organizations are expected to maintain opportunities for collaboration, particularly through combination therapy approaches that integrate technologies developed by each entity.

BioNTech says the restructuring will not affect its current clinical development programs. The company’s pipeline remains focused on oncology and includes several late-stage product candidates. By the end of 2026, BioNTech expects to have approximately 15 ongoing Phase 3 clinical trials targeting various cancer types.

The company also anticipates that 2026 will mark the first year in which multiple late-stage clinical data readouts will be released across several oncology indications. These results are expected to inform regulatory submissions and future commercialization strategies.

Sahin says the transition reflects the company’s evolution as it prepares to expand its portfolio beyond a single product category and advance multiple therapeutic candidates simultaneously. Over the past 18 years, BioNTech has built a diversified research platform and global partnerships that enabled the development of the first approved mRNA COVID-19 vaccine during the pandemic.

“Today, the company is well positioned to advance its mission and evolve into a commercial multi-product company,” says Sahin.

Helmut Jeggle, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, BioNTech, says the founders’ decision to establish a new venture aligns with the company’s strategic direction. He noted that Sahin and Türeci have a long track record of scientific innovation and entrepreneurship.

The new venture will be their third biotechnology company after Ganymed Pharmaceuticals, founded in 2001, and BioNTech, founded in 2008. Its research agenda will focus on the development of next-generation mRNA-based technologies designed to expand the therapeutic potential of the platform across multiple disease areas.

BioNTech says the structure of the agreement is intended to create long-term collaboration opportunities between the two organizations while enabling each to pursue specialized development strategies.

BioNTech describes itself as a global immunotherapy company focused on developing treatments for cancer and other serious diseases. Its pipeline includes mRNA cancer immunotherapies, antibody-drug conjugates, immunomodulators and CAR T cell therapies. The company also continues to research mRNA vaccines targeting infectious diseases.

To advance these programs, BioNTech has established collaborations with several global pharmaceutical partners, including Bristol Myers Squibb, Pfizer, Genentech, Genmab, Regeneron, Duality Biologics, Fosun Pharma, MediLink and OncoC4.