BioNTech to Close Singapore Manufacturing Plant by February 2027 Amid Revenue Decline
核心洞察
German biotechnology firm BioNTech will shut down its vaccine and therapeutic drug manufacturing plant in Singapore by February 2027, affecting 85 employees.
The closure follows a comprehensive strategic review as the company aligns capacity with its clinical portfolio amid declining COVID-19 vaccine sales.
BioNTech reported modest 4% revenue growth for 2025 but expects a 25% revenue decline in 2026 driven by lower COVID-19 vaccine sales.
German biotechnology company BioNTech announced it will close its vaccine and therapeutic drug manufacturing facility in Singapore by February 2027, marking a significant strategic shift for the company that developed one of the first COVID-19 (搜索) vaccines. The closure will affect 85 employees currently working at the Singapore site.
Strategic Realignment Drives Closure Decision
BioNTech made the decision following what the company described as a "comprehensive review" of its operations. "BioNTech made the strategic decision to close its planned Singapore site by the end of February 2027, as we continue to align capacity with our clinical portfolio and long-term strategic direction," the company stated on March 31.
The company emphasized its commitment to supporting affected employees through the transition, stating: "We recognise the significant contributions of our employees affected by these changes and are committed to supporting them through this transition."
Financial Pressures Mount
The closure comes amid challenging financial conditions for BioNTech. The company reported modest revenue growth of approximately 4% for 2025 but projected a significant 25% revenue decline for 2026, primarily driven by lower COVID-19 vaccine sales in both US and European markets.
Sales of COVID-19 (搜索) vaccines have plummeted following the pandemic's peak, while BioNTech's cancer (搜索) vaccine pipeline remains largely in development stages. The company's shares experienced a sharp decline on March 10 following the announcement of these financial projections.
Leadership Transition Adds to Uncertainty
Adding to the company's transitional period, BioNTech's founder couple—CEO Ugur Sahin and Chief Medical Officer Ozlem Tureci—announced their departure by the end of 2026 to establish a new company. This leadership change coincided with the announcement of the company's challenging financial outlook.
Singapore Facility Background
BioNTech acquired the manufacturing facility in Tuas Biomedical Park from Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis in 2022, designating it as the company's regional headquarters. The plant was designed to have a production capacity of up to several hundred million doses of messenger RNA (搜索)-based vaccines—the same technology that powered BioNTech's groundbreaking COVID-19 vaccine.
Beyond COVID-19 (搜索) vaccines and boosters, the facility was intended to develop and manufacture other therapeutics and vaccines, including cancer vaccines (搜索), for both clinical and commercial applications.
Broader Industry Adjustments
BioNTech's decision reflects broader adjustments across the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. US biopharmaceutical firm MSD (known as Merck & Co in the US and Canada) similarly announced the closure of one of its manufacturing sites in Singapore, though operations at its other Tuas facilities remain unaffected.
MSD, which has operated in Singapore since 1997 and invested more than US$2 billion in the country, announced job and cost cuts in 2025 that are expected to save the company US$3 billion. The company stated it "continuously assess our operations and evolving business needs and adjust as needed to ensure the effectiveness of our manufacturing network in delivering reliable, compliant supply of our medicines and vaccines."
Economic Impact on Singapore
The biomedical sciences sector represents a significant component of Singapore's economy, accounting for 1.9% of the country's gross domestic product in 2024 and generating output exceeding $32 billion while employing more than 26,000 people.
Singapore's Economic Development Board is working closely with both BioNTech and MSD, along with Workforce Singapore and NTUC's Employment and Employability Institute, to support affected employees and facilitate job placements.
Strategic Focus Continues
Despite the closure, BioNTech emphasized its ongoing commitment to strategic investments. The company stated it "actively manages the whole pipeline of drugs and vaccines and assesses all sites based on certain key criteria: strategic alignment, operational efficiency and sustainable value creation."
"We remain committed to cost-effective value generation. We consequently plan to continue to significantly invest in essential areas while optimising capacities in others," the company added.
Singapore continues to host eight of the top 10 global biopharmaceutical companies involved in manufacturing and research and development, including major multinationals such as Abbott (搜索), AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, and Pfizer. While individual companies may adjust their global operations, Singapore's biomedical sciences sector continues to demonstrate strong growth and opportunities.