i don't know , i see dis only ah partner$PFE wit BioNTech Signs Collaboration Agreement with Pfizer to Develop mRNA-based
Vaccines for Prevention of Influenza
BioNTech will receive $120 million in upfront, equity and near-term research payments from
Pfizer and will be eligible to receive up to $305 million in potential development, regulatory and
commercial milestone payments and up to double-digit royalties
Partnership brings together Pfizer’s leadership in vaccines with BioNTech’s expertise in mRNA
technology
Mainz, Germany, and NEW YORK, August 16, 2018 – BioNTech AG, a rapidly growing biotechnology
company focused on precise immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer and infectious disease,
today announced that it has entered into a multi-year research and development (R&D) collaboration
with Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) to develop mRNA-based vaccines for prevention of influenza (flu).
Under the terms of the agreement, BioNTech and Pfizer will jointly conduct research and development
activities to help advance mRNA-based flu vaccines. Pfizer will assume sole responsibility for further
clinical development and commercialization of mRNA-based flu vaccines, following BioNTech’s
completion of a first in human clinical study.
BioNTech will receive $120 million in upfront, equity and near-term research payments and up to an
additional $305 million in potential development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments. In
addition, BioNTech will receive up to double-digit tiered royalty payments associated with worldwide
sales if the program reaches commercialization.
BioNTech is an industry leader in mRNA vaccine approaches with validated science, innovative
manufacturing expertise and a broad understanding of the clinical applications of this technology.
“Today’s agreement with Pfizer is one of a number of steps that we are taking to rapidly build a
sustainable R&D presence in infectious disease, combining our deep understanding of the immune
system to treat disease with the cutting-edge technologies and significant infrastructure that we have
built-up over many years to develop immunotherapy treatments,” said Prof. Dr. Ugur Sahin, CoFounder and CEO of BioNTech. “A significant presence in infectious disease supports our goal of
building a global immunotherapy company that provides more effective and precise immunemediated approaches for the prevention and treatment of serious illnesses, such as the prevention of
flu and the treatment of cancer.”
Kathrin Jansen, Senior Vice President and Head of Pfizer’s Vaccine Research and Development Unit
said, “Innovative vaccine approaches are urgently needed to provide improved protection against
seasonal flu, and to respond rapidly and in quantity to pandemic influenza threats. mRNA vaccines
offer a novel approach to code for any protein or multiple proteins, and the potential to manufacture
higher potency flu vaccines more rapidly and at a lower cost than contemporary flu vaccines. BioNTech
is one of the industry leaders in mRNA technology and we are looking forward to working closely with
them to help bring cutting-edge mRNA influenza vaccines to the market to improve people’s lives.”
