A new departure: BioNTech’s founders step aside – Sahin and Türeci move to spin-off

It is news likely to cause a stir in the German biotech sector: the founding couple behind BioNTech will leave the company. The two scientists, who became globally known during the pandemic, intend to establish a new biotechnology company later this year – their third after Ganymed Pharmaceuticals (2001) and BioNTech (2008).

The departure has not come overnight, but it is nonetheless surprising. Sahin remains chief executive of BioNTech today – the company he built, steered through the turbulent development of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine and turned into one of Germany’s best-known biotech names worldwide. Türeci, his long-time scientific partner and wife, has worked alongside him for decades as an expert on the mRNA platform in oncology. That both will hand over the reins at the same time marks a profound turning point.

An orderly departure – but a departure nonetheless

According to BioNTech, the management transition is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. The supervisory board has already begun the search for successors. The company’s clinical pipeline will remain unaffected: by the end of the year, 15 ongoing Phase III oncology trials are set to continue and, ideally, deliver key data.

The new company, whose name has not yet been disclosed, will focus on “next-generation mRNA innovations”. BioNTech itself will not be left out of the arrangement. The plan is for relevant technologies and rights to be contributed to the spin-off in exchange for a minority stake, as well as milestone payments and royalties. A binding agreement is expected to be signed by the end of June 2026.

Sahin: the “right moment”

In a statement, Sahin expressed satisfaction with the timing. BioNTech, he said, is now “very well positioned”, making this the right moment to “pass on the baton”. At the same time, it is clear between the lines that both have always remained scientists at heart rather than executives keen to command a large pharmaceutical enterprise from the bridge. “Our vision has always been to translate science into progress for patients. Now we have the opportunity to unlock the next generation of groundbreaking innovation,” Şahin said.

Supervisory board chairman Helmut Jeggle struck a diplomatic tone, but made the essence of the move clear: Sahin and Türeci should be able to devote their “full attention” to a new company. In other words, the founders’ forward-looking scientific ambitions may no longer fit perfectly with the day-to-day operations of a maturing pharmaceutical company.

What remains – and what changes

BioNTech itself is entering a decisive phase. The company, which has so far relied heavily on the success of its COVID-19 vaccine, aims to establish itself as a multi-product biopharmaceutical group in oncology. Its oncology pipeline – including immunomodulators, antibody-drug conjugates and mRNA-based cancer therapies – is expected to deliver several approved products by 2030. This year, key milestones are anticipated from late-stage clinical trials involving recently acquired drug candidates.

For Sahin and Türeci, however, the move represents a return to the beginning. In a new research-driven start-up they will once again start from scratch – apparently entirely at ease with the prospect and confident that even with a fresh beginning they can make meaningful contributions to the medicine of tomorrow.