BioNTech co‑founders Ugur Sahin and Özlem Türeci announced plans to step down and form a new startup focused on next‑generation mRNA therapeutics, while BioNTech will retain a minority stake and grant certain technology rights. The move comes as BioNTech shifts emphasis toward advancing a late‑stage oncology portfolio and commercializing multiple cancer candidates. BioNTech’s supervisory board said the transition will take place by year‑end and the company has launched a succession search. Sahin and Türeci framed the spinout as a return to discovery focused on mRNA innovation; BioNTech emphasized it will continue to pursue late‑stage programs and expand its commercial footprint in oncology and other indications. The announcement drew attention across mRNA investors and collaborators, as the split redistributes technical leadership and could seed a new wave of preclinical mRNA platforms with rights licensed from BioNTech.