Key facts
- Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel fears Europe is not sufficiently prepared for another pandemic or bioterrorism due to a lack of mRNA manufacturing capacity.
- BioNTech, a key COVID-19 vaccine partner, is closing its German manufacturing sites, leaving continental Europe without mRNA production capabilities.
- Bancel is seeking partnerships with the European Union and individual governments to establish mRNA manufacturing in Europe.
- Moderna is diversifying its product pipeline to include cancer treatments and other infectious disease vaccines.
- The company is experiencing sales growth in 2026, driven by its diversified portfolio and the strength of its mRNA platform.
Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel has voiced significant concerns regarding Europe's preparedness for future pandemics, particularly highlighting a critical lack of mRNA manufacturing capacity on the continent. In an interview with Euronews, Bancel stated that Europe could face severe consequences if a major health crisis were to occur, given the absence of an industrial base to combat it.
His concerns are amplified by the recent announcement that BioNTech, a key player in the COVID-19 vaccine landscape, will be closing its manufacturing sites in Germany after 2026, with production of its Comirnaty vaccine shifting entirely to its US partner, Pfizer. Bancel emphasized that this situation leaves continental Europe without any mRNA manufacturing capabilities, a gap he believes is crucial to address.
Moderna, a US-based company that went public in 2018 and achieved record-breaking biotech IPO status at the time, is actively seeking to collaborate with the European Union and various European governments. Bancel hopes to forge partnerships similar to those established in Canada, the UK, and Australia, to build essential mRNA production infrastructure within Europe.
Beyond pandemic preparedness, Moderna is also focusing on diversifying its technological applications. The company is leveraging its mRNA platform for therapeutic areas such as cancer treatment, including a new approach for Lynch syndrome, a genetic condition that increases cancer risk. This diversification strategy aims to drive future sales growth, following an expected drop after the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.