BioNTech to close Singapore vaccine plant by 2027, impacting 85 employees

German biotechnology firm BioNTech has announced it will shut down its vaccine manufacturing facility in Singapore’s Tuas region by February 2027, marking a significant retreat from its mRNA production footprint in Southeast Asia as the post-pandemic vaccine boom continues to fade.

The site, which was acquired from Novartis less than four years ago, currently employs around 85 people and was initially established to support mRNA vaccine and therapeutic production for the Asia-Pacific region. 

BioNTech said the decision followed a “comprehensive analysis” of its global manufacturing network, adding that the facility no longer aligned with its long-term strategic priorities.

The closure underscores a broader recalibration across the mRNA vaccine industry, which experienced rapid expansion during the COVID-19 pandemic but has since faced declining demand, weaker sales, and shrinking investor confidence.

Experts point to a steep downturn in COVID-19 vaccine revenues as a key factor behind the restructuring. BioNTech, alongside peers such as Moderna, has seen its market valuation fall sharply since peak vaccination years in 2021. The company is currently trading at roughly 78% below its all-time high and reported a net loss exceeding €1 billion (about US$1.17 billion) in 2025.

The financial strain has been compounded by operational setbacks. Earlier reports indicated that BioNTech and Pfizer halted a joint clinical study evaluating COVID-19 vaccines in healthy American adults after failing to meet recruitment targets. The trial aimed to enrol between 25,000 and 30,000 participants but fell short due to enrolment challenges.

Despite these headwinds, BioNTech is seeking to reposition itself beyond infectious diseases. The company has doubled down on its oncology pipeline, which leadership describes as central to its future growth strategy.

“2025 was a year of strong execution marked by substantial progress,” said BioNTech CEO and co-founder Uğur Şahin. “We advanced our oncology pipeline by moving multiple programs into late-stage development and initiated trials assessing novel combination approaches.”

New leadership focus on people strategy

In a parallel development underscoring its long-term restructuring, BioNTech has strengthened its executive leadership with a new global people strategy appointment. The company announced that Kylie Jimenez has joined its Management Board as Chief People Officer (CPO) effective March 1, 2026.

The newly created board-level role is designed to align workforce strategy with BioNTech’s ambition to evolve into a multi-product oncology company by 2030. 

Based in Germany, Jimenez will be responsible for shaping global people strategy, talent development, and organisational culture, with a focus on attracting and retaining highly skilled talent across markets.

She joins BioNTech from industrial firm Georg Fischer, where she serves as global CHRO, and brings over two decades of HR leadership experience spanning Toyota, Johnson & Johnson, and General Mills. Her background includes leading large-scale organisational transformations, including shifts from country-based structures to centralised operating models across more than 40 markets.

Welcoming the appointment, Supervisory Board Chairman Helmut Jeggle said, “Her extensive international experience will help navigate BioNTech through an exciting phase and reinforces the importance of a global people strategy.”

Jimenez, in her statement, said she looks forward to contributing to the company’s next phase of growth, adding that BioNTech’s “unique culture and highly qualified employees are the foundation of its success.”