BioNTech (NASDAQ:BNTX) SE (NASDAQ: BNTX) is a Germany-based biotechnology company that develops next-generation immunotherapies and vaccines, with a primary focus on messenger RNA (mRNA) technology. Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Mainz, BioNTech advances a platform approach to design and manufacture therapeutics across oncology, infectious diseases and other high unmet-need areas. The company is publicly traded on the NASDAQ exchange and became widely known for its rapid development and global deployment of an mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine in collaboration with Pfizer.
BioNTech’s core activities include discovery research, clinical development and manufacturing of mRNA-based medicines, personalized cancer immunotherapies, engineered cell therapies, and antibody- and protein-based therapeutics. Its most prominent commercial product is the COVID-19 vaccine BNT162b2, marketed as Comirnaty in collaboration with Pfizer, which received regulatory authorizations in multiple jurisdictions. Beyond that program, BioNTech maintains a diversified pipeline that includes individualized neoantigen cancer vaccines, T cell receptor (TCR) therapies, CAR-T candidates, and next-generation mRNA vaccine candidates for other infectious diseases such as influenza.
The company operates globally through research collaborations, strategic partnerships, and manufacturing agreements to support clinical trials and commercial supply. BioNTech has emphasized building internal manufacturing capabilities while also working with industry partners to scale production and distribution. Its research and development efforts involve collaborations with academic institutions, biotech and pharmaceutical companies to accelerate development timelines and broaden the reach of its platform technologies.
BioNTech was co-founded by Uğur Şahin and Özlem Türeci, who have been prominent figures in guiding the company's scientific and strategic direction; Şahin serves as Chief Executive Officer. The company continues to prioritize innovation in mRNA and cell-based immunotherapies, aiming to translate platform advances into approved medicines across multiple therapeutic areas while expanding its global research and commercial footprint.