Despite the vaccine developed against the coronavirus, the focus of the Mainz-based company remains on cancer research.
BioNTech's financiers see the Mainz biotech company on the way to becoming a full-fledged pharmaceutical company. “We are now going step by step on our way to an independent, fully integrated pharmaceutical company from Germany,” said investor Thomas Strüngmann of “Manager Magazin.” He and his brother hold around 50 percent of the company. BioNTech comes from cancer therapy and this will remain the main focus of the company.
“After the success against Corona, infectious diseases also play a major role. The mRNA technology is suitable for a wide variety of indications,” said Strüngmann. Helmut Jeggle, who heads the Athos der Strüngmanns subsidiary, added that BioNTech wanted to develop, produce and market its own products. “We are commercializing the Covid vaccination as our first product in Germany ourselves. There is a brand, we are building up sales and marketing, and production in Marburg will start as planned in the next few weeks.”
Jeggle said that two billion cans would be delivered worldwide in 2021 as planned. In the first half of the year, 250 million doses of the corona vaccine could be produced in the Marburg plant. In addition, six instead of five vaccine doses could now be taken from a vial. “Above all, however, we have optimized our systems and the supply chain for maximum performance.”
Everything will be done to deliver the contractually agreed quantities in the first quarter. “Even if it jerks for a week or two, as is currently the case at the Belgian plant in Puurs.” BioNTech's partner, the US company Pfizer, announced delivery delays last week, as production in Puurs would first have to be throttled due to the expansion of capacities.
