BioNTech, the German company behind the COVID-19 vaccine, has been quietly holding discussions with potential buyers for its German facilities that are scheduled to shut down, according to a report published Friday by the Handelsblatt newspaper. The number of German locations facing closure has now grown to four.
Back in May, BioNTech announced it would be shutting down three locations in Germany — in Idar-Oberstein, Marburg, and Tuebingen — before the close of 2027. The company also said it would wind down its Singapore operations by the first quarter of next year. Combined, those closures are expected to affect as many as 1,860 workers.
Now, Handelsblatt is reporting that a fourth German operation is also on the chopping block. JPT Peptides, a BioNTech subsidiary based in Berlin that manufactures peptides used in immunology and drug discovery research, is being offered for sale. According to sources cited by the newspaper who are familiar with the matter, the subsidiary is no longer turning a profit, and BioNTech intends to close it by the end of this year if a buyer cannot be found.
Requests for comment sent to both BioNTech and JPT Peptides were not answered prior to publication.
