BioNTech Co-Founders Depart to Start New mRNA Company

BioNTech SE (BNTX) announced on March 10, 2026, that its co-founders, Prof. Ugur Sahin, M.D., CEO, and Prof. Özlem Türeci, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, will leave by the end of 2026 to lead a new independent mRNA company. The announcement coincided with a weaker-than-expected full-year 2026 revenue outlook and the launch of a CEO succession search.

Founders’ Departure and New Venture

Sahin and Türeci will establish the new firm with separate resources, operations, and funding. BioNTech will contribute related mRNA rights and technologies on an arm’s-length basis in exchange for a minority stake, milestone payments, and royalties. This structure aims to enable collaboration on combination therapies and maximize value for patients and shareholders. A binding agreement is expected in the first half of 2026. The founders will remain under current service agreements during a transition scheduled to conclude by the end of the year. Sahin said, "Özlem and I are ready to become pioneers once again." Meanwhile, BioNTech’s Supervisory Board has begun an executive search to identify successors.

Earnings and 2026 Outlook

BioNTech reported a fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) loss of $0.33, missing the consensus estimate of a $0.19 loss. Revenue declined by $214 million year-over-year in the quarter.

For 2026, the company guided revenue between €2.0 billion and €2.3 billion, below the €2.74 billion consensus. Adjusted research and development (R&D) expenses are forecast at €2.2 billion to €2.5 billion, with adjusted selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) costs of €700 million to €800 million. The lower revenue guidance, combined with the leadership changes, may increase investor scrutiny of BioNTech’s execution and the timing of clinical and commercial milestones.

BioNTech said the founders’ departure will not affect its pipeline. Management plans to sharpen its focus on late-stage programs, including immunomodulators, antibody-drug conjugates, and mRNA therapies, aiming to evolve into a multi-product company by 2030. The company expects 15 Phase 3 oncology trials by year-end 2026 and multiple late-stage readouts during the year, including programs such as trastuzumab pamirtecan, gotistobart, and BNT113.

The combination of the guidance shortfall and executive transition may shift investor attention to the timing of these late-stage readouts and the succession process as near-term execution tests BioNTech’s plans.