BioNTech's co-founders, Ugur Sahin and Ozlem Tureci, announced plans to launch a new pharmaceutical company named Arife and will be stepping down from their roles at BioNTech by the end of 2026. The new Mainz-based company will focus on the research, development, and marketing of next-generation mRNA-based medicines. Sahin and Tureci are expected to remain shareholders in BioNTech.
Guido Oelkers, currently the CEO of Swedish pharmaceutical firm Sobi, is set to succeed Sahin as the new chairman of the management board at BioNTech, with the transition planned no later than February 1, 2027. BioNTech plans to transfer certain rights and mRNA technologies to Arife in exchange for a minority stake and potential future milestone payments and licensing fees, establishing a cooperative relationship between the two companies.