Overview
- BioNTech, which disclosed Tuesday it will end COVID-19 vaccine production in Germany, plans to shut sites in Idar-Oberstein, Marburg, Singapore and former CureVac facilities by the end of 2027, putting up to 1,860 roles at risk.
- Worker representatives say bosses rejected hiring a worker-aligned advisory firm to find buyers and presented a shutdown schedule they argue would make takeovers nearly impossible.
- The councils have invited CEO Uğur Şahin to the next talks and signaled firm resistance as anxiety grows among staff at Mainz headquarters and at the acquired CureVac operations.
- BioNTech says weak plant use, excess capacity and cost pressure drive the plan and it is reviewing site sales to soften layoffs, while about 820 CureVac jobs are at risk, mostly in Tübingen.
- Regional leaders in Baden-Württemberg warn of a loss of mRNA know-how in Tübingen as the state ministry forms a taskforce with BioNTech to explore options.