BioNTech announces major layoffs and founder departures as it pivots to oncology

German biotech firm BioNTech SE disclosed a restructuring plan that includes closing its COVID‑19 vaccine production facilities in Mainz, Germany, and Singapore. The moves are expected to cut about 1,860 jobs and follow a quarterly loss of €532 million. Co‑founders Uğur Şahin and Özlem Türeci have announced they will leave the company by the end of 2026, prompting a roughly 18 % drop in the share price.

At the virtual Annual General Meeting on 15 May 2026, 92 % of shareholders voted in favor of all agenda items. The meeting approved an expansion of the supervisory board from six to eight members and endorsed a strategic shift toward BioNTech’s oncology pipeline, which is now the central focus of its R&D efforts.