The husband-and-wife founders of German vaccine company BioNTech said Tuesday they will step down to launch a new firm focused on fresh innovations.
CEO Ugur Sahin and chief medical officer Özlem Türeci, who developed mRNA vaccine technology in collaboration with Pfizer, created the first COVID-19 vaccine approved in the West in 2021. Their work earned them numerous honors, including Germany’s top medical prize and the Order of Merit.
“Özlem and I are ready to become pioneers once again,” Sahin said. “Our vision has always been to translate our science into meaningful advances for patients.”
The new company will continue the couple’s exploration of mRNA applications. Unlike traditional vaccines, mRNA technology has been highlighted for its potential to address diseases such as influenza, malaria and HIV.
BioNTech will grant the new firm some patent rights in return for a minority stake. “We look forward to working together with their new company on potential combination therapy approaches,” BioNTech chairman Helmut Jeggle said.
The announcement sent BioNTech’s share price down about 17%. The founders are expected to leave by the end of 2026. This new venture will be Sahin and Türeci’s third company; they founded Ganymed Pharmaceuticals in 2001 before launching BioNTech in 2008.
Özlem Türeci and Ugur Sahin attracted global attention for developing the first mRNA COVID-19 vaccine during the pandemic.
Edited by: Louis Oelofse