Germany's Pharma Exodus Deepens as BioNTech Slashes CureVac Workforce by Two-Thirds

BioNTech's acquisition of CureVac will eliminate two-thirds of Tübingen jobs amid a broader exodus of drugmakers from Germany, raising concerns over talent retention and supply chains.

Germany's pharmaceutical industry is undergoing a rapid contraction, with BioNTech's acquisition of CureVac now set to eliminate roughly two-thirds of the jobs at the latter's Tübingen headquarters. The cuts come amid a broader flight of drugmakers from German soil, raising questions about the country's ability to retain highly specialised talent.

The Tübingen site will wind down operations by 31 December 2026, with most employees expected to leave before that deadline. BioNTech plans to offer the first severance agreements as early as September. The company has promised a socially responsible downsizing, but anxiety among staff remains high, especially given the lack of comparable employers in the region.

BioNTech's move is part of a radical strategic realignment. Almost all of its German production sites — Idar-Oberstein, Marburg and Tübingen — will close, along with a facility in Singapore. COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing will be transferred entirely to partner Pfizer. The company is pivoting toward oncology and mRNA-based cancer therapies, aiming to save roughly €500 million annually from 2029 onward.

The Tübingen case is not isolated. In early June, US-based Eli Lilly announced it would slash investments in Alzey far below the originally planned $2.5 billion. Boehringer Ingelheim is redirecting €900 million away from German sites toward the United States and Asia. Industry representatives blame the federal government's healthcare budget cuts, high energy costs and bureaucratic red tape. The chemical sector is also bleeding: Evonik will cut around 1,850 positions by the end of 2026, and Dow is eliminating more than 100 jobs in Stade.

Taskforce scrambles to preserve local expertise

The state government of Baden-Württemberg has responded by creating a taskforce involving the science and economic ministries, the Federal Employment Agency, and the regional biotech agency Biopro. Its mission: retain the mRNA expertise concentrated in Tübingen. Yet finding alternative employers for highly specialised researchers and technicians in the area is proving difficult.

Beyond jobs, supply chains for medicines are wobbling. Rising costs and geopolitical tensions are straining logistics. Pharma Deutschland, the industry association, warns that planned measures to stabilise statutory health insurance contributions could undermine the economic viability of producing critical active ingredients within Germany. Already, shortages of raw materials such as helium are being reported.