“Our mission is to translate science into life-changing therapies for patients.”
BioNTech SE (Biopharmaceutical New Technologies) was founded in 2008 in Mainz, Germany, by physician-scientists Uğur Şahin and Özlem Türeci, together with Christoph Huber. The company’s original focus was individualized cancer immunotherapy, built on mRNA and neoantigen-targeting research the founders had pursued since the early 2000s.
In January 2020, BioNTech pivoted its mRNA platform toward a new coronavirus circulating in Wuhan, China, under the internal name “Project Lightspeed.” Partnered with Pfizer, the company developed BNT162b2 (Comirnaty), which received emergency and conditional authorization in December 2020 — the first authorized mRNA vaccine in history, developed and tested in under a year. The vaccine’s core technology rested on nucleoside-modified mRNA, a discovery led by Katalin Karikó, who served as the company’s Senior Vice President from 2013 to 2022 before her work was recognised with the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, shared with Drew Weissman.
In March 2026, BioNTech announced that founders Şahin and Türeci would depart the company by the end of the year to launch a new venture focused on next-generation mRNA innovations, with BioNTech retaining a minority stake and licensing arrangement. The company has since sharpened its strategic focus toward oncology, advancing over 15 Phase 2 and Phase 3 trials, including the antibody-drug conjugate trastuzumab pamirtecan and the mRNA cancer immunotherapy BNT113, while maintaining cash reserves of approximately €16.8 billion as of early 2026.
Institutional Timeline
Şahin, Türeci and Huber found BioNTech in Mainz, Germany, focused on individualized cancer immunotherapy.
Katalin Karikó joins as Senior Vice President, bringing her nucleoside-modified mRNA research to the company’s platform.
BioNTech pivots its mRNA platform toward COVID-19 vaccine development, partnering with Pfizer.
Comirnaty (BNT162b2) receives emergency and conditional authorization worldwide.
Katalin Karikó leaves BioNTech after nearly a decade as Senior Vice President.
Karikó and Weissman awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the discovery underlying the vaccine.
Şahin and Türeci announce they will leave by end of 2026 to launch a new mRNA-focused venture.
Recognised by the Independent Global Council as an ACCLAD Institution, Class of 2025.
Comirnaty, developed with Pfizer, became the first mRNA vaccine authorized against any disease.
Awarded for the nucleoside-modification discovery central to the company’s mRNA platform.
Over 15 Phase 2 and 3 oncology trials underway, including antibody-drug conjugates and mRNA cancer immunotherapies.
Substantial capital reserve supporting a multi-year transition to a diversified biopharmaceutical model.
Established as a cancer-immunotherapy company before its pivotal pandemic-era pivot.
Recognised for translating foundational mRNA science into the world’s first authorized mRNA vaccine.
Took an mRNA vaccine from sequence to authorization in under a year, a pace without precedent in vaccine development.
Translated Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman’s nucleoside-modification discovery into a manufacturable, globally distributed product.
Redirected its mRNA and immunotherapy platform toward cancer treatment, with a pipeline of over 15 late-stage trials by 2026.
Navigating a historic founder transition in 2026 while sustaining one of biotech’s largest oncology pipelines.
Our vision has always been to translate science into progress for patients.— Uğur Şahin, Co-Founder & CEO, March 2026
The Independent Global Council of ACCLAD recognises BioNTech SE as an ACCLAD Institution, Class of 2025, in Health & Medicine, in acknowledgement of its role in translating foundational mRNA science into the world’s first authorized mRNA vaccine, developed and delivered at unprecedented speed during a global pandemic.