BERLIN, March 10 (Xinhua) -- The founders of German vaccine maker BioNTech will step down to launch a new biotechnology company focused on next-generation mRNA medicines, the company said on Tuesday.
Ugur Sahin and Oezlem Tuereci will leave the Mainz-based company by the end of 2026 at the latest, when their current contracts expire. The couple plan to remain shareholders, retaining around 15 percent of BioNTech.
The new company is expected to focus on developing next-generation mRNA-based therapies. BioNTech said some rights and technologies could be transferred to the new venture in exchange for a minority stake and licensing fees.
Sahin and Tuereci founded BioNTech in 2008 to develop mRNA-based cancer treatments, and the company gained global prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic.
BioNTech has since shifted its focus back to cancer therapies as revenues from its COVID-19 vaccine declined. The company reported a net loss of more than 1.1 billion euros (1.28 billion U.S. dollars) in 2025.
