EkaLore has been writing about the rise of BioNTech/Pfizer and the events leading to the Pfizer Comirnaty (BNT162b2) Covid-19 vaccine/booster and the related development of the Pfizer Paxlovid Covid-19 treatment. Here are a few notable events in reverse chronological order.
China and BioNTech licensing (2022)
During a visit of the German Chancellor to China the week of November 1, 2022, an announcement was made that the BioNTech mRNA vaccine could be made available to foreigners in China. Clinical trials were conducted in China with BNT162b2 in 2020, though no mRNA vaccine and boosters have ever received total regulatory approvals in China. News reports suggested a possible regulatory approval and supply process for more of the vaccine product.
China and BioNTech licensing (2020)
In March 2020, at the beginning of vaccine development for Covid-19, BioNTech entered into an agreement, with Fosun Pharmaceutical (Shanghai) for the Chinese market, for BNT162b2 vaccine marketing and distribution rights. In December 2020, BioNTech and Fosun offered up to 100M doses for the Chinese market. Fosun planned to manufacture the vaccine ‘onshore.’ Fosun and BioNTech set up a 50-50 USD$200M Joint Venture in May 2021 with a potential plan to manufacture up to 1B vaccine per year. The JV would extend collaboration past the Covid-19 vaccine to other products.
As part of this USD$185M agreement, Fosun Pharmaceutical purchased 1.58M shares of BioNTech stock for USD$50M, valued at more than USD$235M in November 2022.
BioNTech and Pfizer (2018 – 2019)
BioNTech’s development of mRNA techniques for generating a defense against viruses had been of interest to Pfizer earlier than in 2018. In August 2018, Pfizer and BioNTech executed a collaboration agreement in which Pfizer invested in BioNTech, and the companies agreed on working together at a total deal value of USD$425M. The collaboration and investment focused on a possible mRNA vaccine for influenza.
BioNTech’s development of mRNA and other biotechnologies had attracted investment from Sanofi and the Gates Foundation before its USA NASDAQ IPO in October 2019.
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