German biotechnology company BioNTech has fewer corona vaccines so far this year sold than hoped. The reason for this is that most people in the West have already had at least three shots. BioNTech expects demand to pick up again by the end of this year, once a new version of the vaccine is on the market.
The company saw both sales and profits fall by 40 percent compared to last year. The reason for this is that many more injections were bought in 2021 than now. Now that most people have already had a booster shot, those numbers from last year are no longer being achieved.
The hopes of BioNTech and partner Pfizer are now pinned on a modified version of the corona vaccine. This version is specifically aimed at the omikron variant that now predominates. The first doses of the vaccine targeting both the original coronavirus and the rapidly spreading omikron variant should be ready in October. This makes it time for the booster campaigns in the fall, says BioNTech. The companies will begin a clinical trial this month.
BioNTech therefore maintains its expectation to sell between thirteen billion and seventeen billion euros worth of vaccines this year. The company expects vaccine sales to increase in the fourth quarter when the new corona vaccine is available. Competitor Moderna has already said it will deliver the first autumn boosters in September.
BioNTech and Pfizer are also seeking approval in Europe for a version of their vaccine against the original coronavirus plus an earlier subvariant of omikron, BA.1. The US authorities have asked the drug manufacturers for an injection that is adapted to the later sub-variant of omikron, BA.4/5.
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