BioNTech guides for worse-than-expected 2025 revenue decline

March 10 (Reuters) - German COVID-19 vaccine maker BioNTech 22UAy.DE on Monday said that its 2025 revenues would likely fall to between 1.7 billion euros ($1.85 billion) and 2.2 billion euros, prompting a decline in its share price.

The guidance compares with revenues of 2.75 billion euros reported for last year and with an average analyst estimate of about 2.5 billion for 2025, according to LSEG data.

BioNTech said vaccination rates would likely be relatively stable this year but added that expected inventory write-downs at its collaboration partner Pfizer would have a negative effect on revenues.

Giving an outlook on a shift in staffing, the company also said that it intends to reduce between 950 to 1,350 full-time positions until 2027, including in its late-stage mRNA manufacturing site in Marburg and in research operations in Europe and North America.

At the same time, BioNTech plans to add between 800 and 1,200 full-time positions, including at its new large-scale mRNA immunotherapy manufacturing facility in Mainz, Germany, and through the completion of the acquisition of Biotheus.

BioNTech said that it expects overall headcount to remain "relatively stable" over the next three years.

The biotech firm's German traded stock was down 4.3% at 1217 GMT.

($1 = 0.9213 euros)