German vaccine maker BioNTech to cut up to 1,860 jobs, close plants

German vaccine manufacturer BioNTech, which rose to global prominence with its Covid-19 vaccine developed alongside Pfizer, plans to close several production sites, with up to 1,860 jobs affected, reported dpa.

The Mainz-based company on Tuesday attributed the cuts to overcapacity and cost-cutting measures. The plans also extend to facilities tied to its recently acquired rival CureVac, as BioNTech streamlines its manufacturing footprint.

Sites in Idar-Oberstein, Marburg and Tübingen in Germany are scheduled to close by the end of 2027. Operations in Singapore are expected to cease in the first quarter of 2027.

BioNTech expects the measures to deliver recurring annual savings of up to €500 million ($580 million) once fully implemented in 2029. The funds are to be redirected towards the research, development and commercial rollout of cancer therapies, reflecting the company’s growing focus on oncology.

The announcement comes amid declining revenues from Covid-19 vaccines.

In the first quarter, BioNTech reported revenue of €118.1 million, down from €182.8 million a year earlier, primarily due to weaker vaccine sales. Net loss widened to €531.9 million from €415.8 million, which the company attributed to higher spending on immuno-oncology programmes.

The group posted a billion-euro loss for 2025 as a whole, underscoring the financial impact of falling income and rising development costs.

For 2026, BioNTech expects revenues of between €2-2.3 billion, while forecasting further declines in Covid-19 vaccine sales in both Europe and the United States. The company is preparing a variant-adapted Covid-19 vaccine for the 2026-27 immunization season.

Following its acquisition of CureVac, the company aims to submit multiple regulatory applications for oncology treatments by 2030 as it seeks to establish a stronger foothold in the cancer treatment market.