Interview: BioNTech And Pfizer Explore mRNA Flu Vaccines In $120m+ Deal

16 Aug 2018

The German biotech's CBO and CCO Sean Marett tells Scrip that the Pfizer pact represents the first time BioNTech has moved into infectious disease in humans and could lead to higher potency flu vaccines that could be made more rapidly and cheaply.

Cash injection — BioNTech gets Pfizer cash injection for flu vaccine • Source: Shutterstock

Expanding from its personalized cancer immunotherapy area of expertise, Europe’s largest private biotech BioNTech AG has signed a collaboration with Pfizer Inc. to develop messenger RNA (mRNA)-based vaccines for the prevention of influenza.

The cash terms that the German group has negotiated are impressive. BioNTech will receive $120m in upfront, equity and near-term...