So, here's a fun corporate transition plan: the founders of the company are going to leave to start a new company in the same field. Investors in the old company never love this news, and BioNTech SE (BNTX) is proving the rule. Its shares tumbled in premarket trading Tuesday after the company announced its co-founders plan to launch a new venture focused on next-generation mRNA innovations.
The idea, according to the announcement, is for both companies to focus on their respective strategic priorities, which BioNTech says will "maximize value for patients and shareholders alike." We'll see what shareholders think about that maximization today.
The Founders' Next Act
The co-founders, Ugur Sahin and Özlem Türeci, will move to lead their new company by the end of 2026. Back at the original BioNTech, the Supervisory Board is now starting an executive search for their successors.
The new venture will aim to push mRNA technology forward, while BioNTech says it will sharpen its focus on its existing pipeline. That pipeline is substantial, including 15 ongoing Phase 3 clinical trials in oncology by year-end. 2026 is also slated to be the first year BioNTech expects multiple late-stage data readouts across major cancer types, which will inform its regulatory and launch plans.
Earnings Were Good, Actually
Here's the twist: the news came alongside quarterly earnings that beat estimates. It's just that the future guidance and the founder news seem to be overshadowing the recent past.
BioNTech reported a fourth-quarter loss of 38 cents (33 cents in euros), which was better than the consensus estimate for a loss of 47 cents. Sales came in at $1.06 billion (907.4 million euros), also beating the consensus of $889.48 million.
So, what's the problem? The sales number still represents a year-on-year decrease, which the company says was "primarily driven by reduced market demand" for its COVID-19 vaccines. And looking ahead, it expects lower COVID-19 vaccine revenue in 2026 compared to 2025, citing declines in both the European and U.S. markets.
That outlook is baked into its fiscal 2026 sales guidance, which it set in the range of $2.33 billion to $2.68 billion (between 2-2.3 billion euros). Wall Street was expecting more—about $3.12 billion.
Other Things You Should Know
This founder news isn't happening in a vacuum. BioNTech has been active on other fronts recently.
In February, the company filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Moderna Inc. (MRNA). BioNTech alleges that Moderna's next-generation COVID-19 vaccine, mNEXSPIKE, relies on proprietary technology that BioNTech developed and patented.
In December, BioNTech and its partner Bristol Myers Squibb & Co. (BMY) shared the first interim data from a global Phase 2 trial for a combination therapy targeting triple-negative breast cancer.
And back in November, Pfizer Inc. (PFE) said it was selling off its remaining stake in BioNTech, its former COVID-19 vaccine partner.
What the Charts Are Saying
Technically, the picture isn't pretty for BioNTech stock. It's currently trading 18% below its 100-day simple moving average and 20.8% below its 20-day average, which chart watchers would call a bearish trend.
Shares are down about 3% over the past year and are sitting closer to their 52-week lows than their highs. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is at 41.49, which is considered neutral—neither overbought nor oversold. Meanwhile, the MACD indicator is in negative territory and below its signal line, suggesting bearish pressure.
Put it together, and the technical momentum looks mixed at best. Traders are watching key resistance at $101.50 and key support at $81.00.
As for the stock's action today: BioNTech shares were down 14.25% at $87.60 during premarket trading on Tuesday.
