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BioNTech to Close Sites, Affecting Over 800 Former CureVac Jobs
🇩🇪 Germany /Economy & Trade

BioNTech to Close Sites, Affecting Over 800 Former CureVac Jobs

From Die Zeit · (12m ago) German Critical tone

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • BioNTech plans to close several sites, including those of its former competitor CureVac, affecting approximately 820 former CureVac employees.
  • The Tübingen site, CureVac's former headquarters, is slated for closure by the end of 2027 due to low utilization and overcapacity.
  • These measures are part of a cost-reduction strategy, with savings intended for cancer research and development, aiming for annual savings of up to 500 million euros by 2029.

German biotechnology firm BioNTech is implementing significant restructuring measures, including the closure of multiple sites, impacting around 820 former employees of the recently acquired CureVac. This move, which includes the closure of CureVac's former headquarters in Tübingen by the end of 2027, stems from what BioNTech cites as insufficient capacity utilization, overcapacities, and the need for cost reductions.

Der Standort in Tübingen und frühere Hauptsitz von Curevac soll bis Ende 2027 geschlossen werden.

— dpaThe report states that the Tübingen site, formerly CureVac's headquarters, is scheduled for closure by the end of 2027.

The company, which achieved substantial success during the COVID-19 pandemic with its vaccine, has faced financial challenges, reporting billion-euro losses in 2025 and losses in the first quarter of 2026. The restructuring aims to streamline operations and reallocate resources. The savings generated, projected to reach up to 500 million euros annually by 2029, are earmarked for BioNTech's strategic focus on oncology – the development and market introduction of cancer therapies.

Das Management des Biopharma-Unternehmens begründet die Einschnitte mit einer zu geringen Auslastung, Überkapazitäten und Kostensenkungen.

— dpaThe management attributes the cutbacks to low utilization rates, overcapacities, and the need for cost reductions.

This strategic shift underscores BioNTech's commitment to advancing cancer treatments using its mRNA technology. Despite the job losses and site closures, the company aims to leverage its expertise and financial restructuring to accelerate progress in developing innovative oncology drugs, with plans to submit multiple regulatory applications for cancer candidates by 2030. The acquisition of CureVac was a key step in bolstering its capabilities in this area.

Biontech hatte 2025 angesichts hoher Entwicklungskosten einen Verlust in Milliardenhöhe gemacht. Auch im ersten Quartal 2026 schrieb das Unternehmen rote Zahlen.

— dpaThe article notes BioNTech's financial performance, including billion-euro losses in 2025 and losses in the first quarter of 2026, due to high development costs.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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