MELBOURNE, Australia, October 20, 2026 - BioNTech SE (Nasdaq: BNTX, "BioNTech" or "the Company") today announced the inauguration of its state-of-the-art clinical-scale mRNA manufacturing and research and development ("R&D") facility at La Trobe University's Bundoora campus in Melbourne, Australia. The inauguration, attended by the Hon. Colin Brooks MP, Treasurer of Victoria, and the Hon. Anthony Carbines MP, Minister for Economic Development of the State of Victoria, marks a significant milestone in BioNTech's strategic partnership with the State of Victoria to strengthen the local mRNA ecosystem.
Since 2014, the Victorian Government has invested more than A$1.2 billion in health and medical research in general, laying the foundation for breakthroughs in treatment and care, driving economic growth, and creating highly skilled jobs.[i] The State of Victoria contracted BioNTech in 2023 to develop and commission an mRNA manufacturing facility tailored to the needs of the local mRNA ecosystem, underlining the Government's long-term commitment in enabling partnerships like the one with BioNTech.
The newly inaugurated facility is built around BioNTech's modular BioNTainer® technology, which integrates mRNA drug substance manufacturing, formulation, and aseptic filling capabilities within a single site. This setup provides clinical-scale end-to-end manufacturing capabilities tailored to the needs of the local mRNA ecosystem. Offering state-subsidized access to researchers and biotech start-ups, the facility aims to enable innovative mRNA approaches to progress efficiently from research to clinical trials. BioNTech in Australia is already producing R&D materials for researchers; and upon successful commissioning, the facility is expected to become operationally ready for GMP manufacturing by mid to late 2027.
"Our partnership with the Victorian Government demonstrates how public-private collaboration can build lasting capabilities aimed at driving innovation in medicine," said Sierk Poetting, Ph.D., Chief Operating Officer at BioNTech. "I am proud of the milestone we reached with today's inauguration and look forward to the years ahead as we continue working with our partners to further strengthen the local mRNA ecosystem and empower groundbreaking research and development that are aimed at making a difference for patients worldwide."
"We have already seen significant demand for R&D and clinical trial material support within the mRNA ecosystem, with potential projects spanning indications including infectious disease, oncology, immunology and neurology with high unmet medical need," said Dr. David Sparling, Site Head at BioNTech Australia. "It is exciting to envision how this facility, once fully operational, can help researchers accelerate their innovations and bring them closer to patients. With today's inauguration, we have taken an important step toward enabling these advancements and strengthening the mRNA research and development landscape in Australia and beyond."
BioNTech's clinical trials in Australia are key to the Company's global oncology strategy, with 18 currently ongoing trials in the region advancing nearly all of its oncology pipeline candidates. Focused on addressing high unmet medical need, this clinical footprint plays a significant role in supporting BioNTech's ambition to become a multi-product biopharmaceutical company by 2030 - delivering new treatment options that aim to significantly improve standards of care or establish new ones for people worldwide.
About the private-public partnership between BioNTech and the State of Victoria
The clinical-scale mRNA manufacturing and R&D facility is one of three strategic pillars of BioNTech's presence in Australia, which is focused on contributing to the local mRNA ecosystem as well as advancing the Company's oncology pipeline towards commercialization:
- Innovation Centre: Located in Melbourne's central business district, BioNTech's mRNA Innovation Centre plays a pivotal role in identifying, assessing, and advancing mRNA-focused research projects from academia and industry. Open to researchers, biotechnology companies, and clinical partners, the Innovation Centre provides scientific expertise, development support, and access to mRNA manufacturing capabilities.
- mRNA manufacturing facility: The newly inaugurated facility at La Trobe University's Bundoora campus is a high-tech hub for clinical-scale GMP and R&D mRNA manufacturing. It is designed to support preclinical and clinical development, enabling innovators to translate their ideas into clinical trials.
- Clinical development: BioNTech is advancing its oncology pipeline through clinical trials in Australia, including through the Clinical Trials Oncology Platform ("CTOP"). CTOP is designed to streamline clinical trials and enhance patient access. The platform was launched in partnership with the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in 2025 and is supported by a clinical network including Austin Health, Alfred Health, and Monash Health.
Together, the Innovation Centre and manufacturing facility establish an integrated pathway that aims to support collaborators at every stage of development. This connected approach is designed to accelerate the translation of innovative science into potential new treatment options.
[i] https://djsir.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/2246953/health-and-medical-research-strategy-2022-32.pdf, accessed on October 13, 2026.