BioNTech £1bn investment commitment boosts UK life sciences industry
In a significant move for the UK's life sciences sector, BioNTech, renowned for its role in developing the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, has announced a £1 billion investment over the next decade.
This initiative aims to establish cutting-edge research and development centres in Cambridge and London, focusing on personalised medicine, particularly mRNA-based vaccines and cancer immunotherapies.
The UK Government is supporting this venture with up to £129 million in funding, demonstrating their plans to support innovation in life sciences. Peter Kyle, the Science and Technology Secretary, described the investment as a testament to the UK's strength in life sciences, highlighting its potential to create over 400 highly skilled jobs and stimulate economic growth
BioNTech's CEO and co-founder of BioNTech, Uğur Şahin, said: "This agreement marks the next chapter of our successful strategic partnership with the UK government. Together, we have already made a meaningful difference in expanding access to investigational personalised cancer therapies for patients. Now, we are taking the next step to accelerate and broaden our research and development efforts advancing towards our vision to translate science into survival for patients".
He emphasised the company's dedication to accelerating research in mRNA technologies, integrating artificial intelligence to develop personalised cancer treatments.
The latest announcement builds on a partnership established in January 2023, which includes enrolling up to 10,000 patients in clinical trials for personalised cancer therapies by 2030.
This investment arrives at a pivotal time for the UK, following the disappointing decision from AstraZeneca earlier this year to cancel a £450 million investment in the UK. This announcement combining government support with BioNTech's ambitious plans is a clear sign that reinforces the UK's position as a leader in medical research and innovation.
The new R&D centre in Cambridge will focus on areas such as genomics, oncology, structural biology and regenerative medicine. In London, BioNTech plans to set up a major AI hub, using its subsidiary InstaDeep to use AI to understand the causes of disease, target drug selection and help with predictive analytics.,This is intended to lead to discovering and developing new therapies, diagnostics and treatments for many diseases.
The initiative also aims to enhance the integration of innovative treatments into the NHS, addressing previous concerns about the UK's pharmaceutical business environment. By fostering collaboration between the NHS, academia, regulators, and the private sector, the partnership will look to speed up the development and deployment of ground-breaking therapies in the UK.
BioNTech's substantial investment is a fantastic vote of confidence for the UK's life sciences sector, for promising advancements in personalised medicine, job creation and economic growth. It shows the UK is being seen as being at the forefront for R&D in understanding the root causes of disease and ground-breaking treatments in a world of personalised medicine. It demonstrates the existing skills, research and science base that we have already in the UK. It will be exciting to see what difference this investment will bring - not only to skilled jobs but also to patients' lives.