BioNTech Announces Major Layoffs Amid Strategic Realignment

BioNTech, the German biotechnology company known for its COVID-19 vaccine, is implementing significant workforce reductions across its U.S. operations as part of a strategic realignment focused on cancer and infectious disease research.

Job Cuts and Operational Changes

BioNTech has confirmed the layoff of 90 employees across its U.S. sites, with 58 positions being eliminated at the Cambridge, Massachusetts office and 32 at the Gaithersburg, Maryland location. These cuts follow a previous round of 63 layoffs in June, which were associated with the discontinuation of cell therapy manufacturing operations in Maryland.

A company spokesperson stated, "We actively manage our pipeline and assess our sites according to key criteria: strategic alignment, operational efficiency and sustainable value creation. To this end, we are significantly investing in certain essential areas while optimizing capacities in others."

The layoffs in Maryland are set to take effect by September 16, according to a Work Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) report filed on July 18. BioNTech is also reviewing its German operations, with ongoing negotiations with the employee council there. More information regarding potential layoffs in Germany is expected later this year.

Strategic Focus and Pipeline Priorities

BioNTech is refocusing its efforts on therapeutic approaches with pan-tumor potential, including personalized mRNA cancer immunotherapies and a PD-L1/VEGF-A bispecific antibody candidate called BNT327. This strategic shift comes as the company adapts to the post-pandemic market, with COVID-19 vaccine revenues declining from nearly $19 billion in 2022 to around $3.2 billion in 2024.

The company's R&D expenses have decreased from €584.6 million in Q2 2024 to €509.1 million in Q2 2025, primarily due to the "reprioritization of clinical trials towards focus programs." Despite the workforce reductions, BioNTech plans to continue investing significantly in the clinical evaluation of its prioritized cancer candidates across multiple indications.

A notable development in BioNTech's cancer portfolio is the promising results of BNT327, which demonstrated an 85.4% confirmed objective response rate in patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer in a Phase II trial. This success has attracted a major collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb, which has committed $11 billion to co-develop and co-commercialize the drug.

Leadership Changes and Future Outlook

Adding to the company's transformation, BioNTech's Chief Strategy Officer, Ryan Richardson, has announced his resignation effective September 30, 2025. Richardson, who joined the company in 2018 and became CSO in 2020, played a crucial role in raising over $1 billion during BioNTech's rise to prominence with its COVID-19 vaccine.

As BioNTech navigates these changes, it is also working to close its largest M&A deal to date—a $1.2 billion acquisition of CureVac. This move, along with the company's strategic realignment, signals BioNTech's commitment to maintaining its position at the forefront of mRNA technology and oncology research in the evolving pharmaceutical landscape.