BioNTech Slashes German Footprint, Eyes EUR 500 Million in Annual Savings by 2029

BioNTech will shut plants in Tübingen, Marburg, Idar-Oberstein and Singapore, cutting as many as 1,860 jobs to fund cancer research.

BioNTech is dismantling a chunk of the industrial machine it built during the pandemic, closing four production sites and cutting as many as 1,860 jobs as it redirects capital toward cancer research.

The Mainz-based biotech confirmed that no buyers emerged for the affected properties, leaving it no choice but to wind down operations. The closures span three German plants — Tübingen, Marburg and Idar-Oberstein — alongside a facility in Singapore. The retreat will be phased rather than simultaneous: Tübingen is slated to cease operations at the end of 2027, Marburg in early 2028, and Idar-Oberstein by the close of 2028, with the full program running through the end of that year.

Underutilized mRNA production lines and a strategic shift toward clinical oncology programs drove the decision. Management expects the slimmed-down manufacturing base to deliver roughly EUR 500 million in annual savings by 2029, according to media reports.

Worker Representatives Cry Foul

The announcement landed hard at the affected sites. The head of the works council in Idar-Oberstein described employees as stunned by the decision, and the employee representation criticized the company for failing to involve the works council during the preceding sales process. BioNTech left a request for comment on those allegations unanswered before the reports were published.

BioNTech has agreed with the works council on socially compatible arrangements and additional severance terms for the workers affected.

Insider Sales Add to the Noise

Roughly a week before the closure reports surfaced, share disposals by company leadership drew attention. CEO Ugur Sahin sold two tranches of 34,000 and 32,000 ordinary shares through a pre-arranged trading plan under Rule 10b5-1, a mechanism that fixes sale timing and volumes well in advance.

Patent Fight Grinds On in Delaware

Legal pressure is mounting in parallel. On 28 September, the US District Court for the District of Delaware rejected a motion by Pfizer and BioNTech to dismiss a patent infringement suit brought by Bayer. The case centers on the use of mRNA technology in COVID-19 vaccines and was filed by Bayer CropScience LLC, Monsanto Company and Monsanto Technology LLC. The court's ruling explicitly does not constitute a finding that any patent was actually infringed, but it allows the litigation to proceed — leaving BioNTech exposed to a US proceeding with an uncertain outcome. A federal judge also turned down dismissal bids from Pfizer, BioNTech and Moderna in related actions.

Auditor Locked In, Valuation Under Pressure

About two weeks ago, BioNTech's supervisory board approved KPMG AG Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft as independent auditor for the fiscal year ending 31 December 2027, subject to formal election at the upcoming annual general meeting.

The stock closed Friday at EUR 86.10, putting the shares 19 percent below their 52-week high of EUR 105.80. Market capitalization stands at EUR 21.60 billion.