BioNTech Chief Strategy Officer Departs Amid Oncology Pivot and Major Deals
BioNTech's chief strategy officer, Ryan Richardson, will leave the company at the end of September 2025 to pursue new professional opportunities, after joining the biotech firm in 2018 and playing a central role in its financial growth and strategic deals2.
Richardson's exit comes during a transformative period for BioNTech, which is aggressively pivoting to focus on oncology as COVID-19 vaccine sales decline. The company aims to become a cancer drug leader by 2030, reinforcing this ambition with a $1.25 billion acquisition of cancer vaccine developer CureVac124.
BioNTech credited Richardson with building its global strategy, leading its 2019 IPO, developing its corporate development teams, and executing key acquisitions and collaborations—including its timely investment in a promising bispecific antibody candidate2.
Key assets in BioNTech’s oncology pipeline include BNT327 (a PD-L1/VEGF-A bispecific antibody now in phase 3 trials), BNT116 (an mRNA-based therapy for lung cancer), and several antibody-drug conjugates, with over 20 oncology programs in active clinical development13.
BioNTech has stated that Richardson’s responsibilities will be transitioned to other management board members; it has not confirmed whether a direct replacement will be hired2.
Sources:
1. https://www.ainvest.com/news/biontech-q1-2025-earnings-strategic-shift-oncology-path-profitability-2505/
2. https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/biontechs-chief-strategy-officer-richardson-heads-exit
3. https://www.stocktitan.net/news/BNTX/bio-n-tech-to-present-clinical-and-preclinical-data-across-m-rna-and-raf8ms2t8q1h.html
4. https://www.emarketer.com/content/biontech-strikes--1-25-billion-deal-curevac