BioNTech History
BioNTech AG was founded in 2008 by the clinical scientists Prof. Dr. Ugur Sahin and Prof. Dr. Christoph Huber as a spin-off of the
prestigious Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany. The Company is founded on years of pioneering work by Ugur Sahin,
CEO, and Özlem Türeci, Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board. Their accomplishments include groundbreaking innovations for
identifying ideal cancer targets, award-winning immunotherapy technologies, and a broad patent portfolio.
A consortium of investors, led by the Strüngmann Family office and the MIG Fonds (Munich) supported one of the largest initial financing rounds ever in the European biotech sector.
BioNTech AG is structured as a holding company which provides a corporate roof and strategic umbrella for its subsidiaries.
Timeline:
10/2008: Founding of BioNTech AG
Founded by Prof. Ugur Sahin and Prof. Christoph Huber as a spin-off of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany.
06/2009: Founding of affiliates
BioNTech affiliates Ribological GmbH, UniCell GmbH, TheraCode GmbH and Tulip GmbH are founded.
06/2009: Acquisition of JPT Peptide Technologies GmbH
JPT becomes a wholly owned subsidiary, endowing BioNTech with complementary expertise of high synergistic potential.
06/2009: Acquisition of EUFETS GmbH
EUFETS becomes a wholly owned subsidiary, endowing BioNTech with synergistic platforms and complementary expertise for
development, testing and manufacturing services.
06/2010: Acquisition of Microbody® Technology
Know-how and IP required for the establishment of a discovery platform which enables BioNTech for the generation of target-specific ligands based on the knottin protein scaffold.
07/2011: GMP manufacturing authorization RNA
BioNTech obtains GMP manufacturing authorization for RNA production.
01/2011: CI3 wins Leading-Edge Cluster Competition Award
BioNTech as member of the CI3 Cluster for Individualized ImmunoIntervention wins the Leading-Edge Cluster Competition Award
sponsored by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).
03/2012: Investment in AptaIT GmbH
09/2012: Entry into clinical study MERIT
Entry into clinical study MERIT (Melanoma RNA Immunotherapy).
10/2012: Grant awarded by the European Commission
GAPVAC - BioNTech receives a grant by the European Commission as a member of Glioma Actively Personalized Vaccine consortium. The project is one of the first clinical projects in the direction of fully active personalized medicine.
05/2013: Grant awarded by the European Commission – MERIT
BioNTech receives a grant by the European Commission as a member of the Mutanome Engineered RNA Immuno-Therapy consortium. The project applies and validates an entirely new RNA-based immunotherapy approach for the personalized treatment for
cancer.
06/2013: Grant awarded by the European Commission – IACT
BioNTech receives a grant by the European Commission as a partner of the Mutanome Engineered RNA Immuno-Therapy. The
project focuses on the clinical development of agonist IS-Abs targeting three complementary receptors on immune cells: CD40,
OX40 and 4-1BB/CD137.
12/2013: Entry into clinical study IVAC (Individualized Cancer Immunotherapy)
Entry into clinical study IVAC (Individualized Vaccine against Cancer).
03/2014: Rebranding of BioNTech´s subsidiaries to group them under one strategic roof:
- Ribological GmbH becomes BioNTech RNA Pharmaceuticals GmbH
- UniCell GmbH becomes BioNTech Cell & Gene Therapies GmbH
- Tulip GmbH becomes BioNTech Protein Therapeutics GmbH
- TheraCode GmbH becomes BioNTech Diagnostics GmbH
10/2014: BioNTech opens new research headquarters in Mainz
The new facility brings together 400 employees and is located in close proximity to academic institutions, hospitals and cancer
research institutions.
04/2015: NATURE Publication: Breakthrough Development in Cancer Immunology
BioNTech and partners publish a ground-breaking paper which shows an important scientific foundation for the clinical development of truly personalized yet broadly applicable cancer treatment for any patient.
05/2015: BioNTech and Eli Lilly announce research collaboration
BioNTech Cell & Gene and Eli Lilly & Company announce a licensing agreement on novel tumor targets and corresponding T-cell
receptors.
05/2015: BioNTech and Genmab sign co-development and commercialization agreement in immuno-oncology
BioNTech and Genmab announce a co-development and commercialization agreement on bispecific antibodies.
06/2015: BioNTech launches MammaTyper® Breast Cancer Diagnostic
BioNTech Diagnostics launches MammaTyper®, a CE-IVD marked molecular diagnostic test to stratify breast cancer patients by
molecular subtyping of routine tumor tissue.
06/2015: Siemens and BioNTech cooperate on production of personalized cancer
vaccines
BioNTech RNA Pharmaceuticals and Siemens announce the construction of a fully automated, paperless and digitalized commercial cGMP-Production site for individualized vaccines to optimize manufacturing process.
11/2015: Sanofi and BioNTech sign Cancer Immunotherapy collaboration and license
agreement
BioNTech RNA Pharmaceuticals and Sanofi announce a licensing, co-development and co-commercialization agreement for mRNA
cancer immunotherapies.
11/2015: Grant awarded by the European Commission – EAVI2020
The European AIDS Vaccine Initiative (EAVI2020) wins the 23 million euro EU-grant for the development of an effective HIV vaccine.
BioNTech RNA Pharmaceuticals is part of the consortium.
12/2015: BioNTech and Shuwen partnership to commercialize MammaTyper® in China
BioNTech Diagnostics and Shuwen announce a partnership. Shuwen undertakes clinical studies for regulatory approval of
MammaTyper® in China, and becomes the exclusive distributor in China.
04/2016: BioNTech acquires operations of 4SC Discovery division
BioNTech announces acquisition of 4SC Discovery divisionThe operations of 4SC Discovery GmbH are transfered into newly incorporated BioNTech Small Molecules GmbH.
05/2016: Bayer and BioNTech join forces to develop mRNA Therapeutics for Animal Health applications
Bayer and BioNTech have entered into an agreement to develop novel, first-in-class mRNA vaccines and therapeutics specifically
for Animal Health applications.
BioNTech AG
An der Goldgrube 12
D-55131 Mainz, Germany
Tel: +49 (0) 6131-90 84 - 0
Fax: +49 (0) 6131-90 84 - 390
[email protected]
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