BioNTech Says Covid Vaccine Revenue May Be Lower This Year

(Bloomberg) -- BioNTech SE said its revenue from the Covid-19 shot it sells together with Pfizer Inc. may be lower this year than last, predicting sales between 13 billion euros and 17 billion euros ($14.7 billion and $19.3 billion). 

The company said Covid vaccine sales last year will total 16 billion euros to 17 billion euros. It issued the 2022 prediction in an investor presentation on Tuesday and is due to release fourth-quarter financial data on March 30. 

Pfizer in December forecast vaccine sales of $31 billion this year, based on contracts for 1.9 billion doses signed through mid-November. The revenue is shared between the partners. The wave of infections due to the highly transmissible omicron variant has intensified booster campaigns in Europe and the U.S., though it’s still not clear how many countries will pursue yet another round of shots later in the year. 

BioNTech now has around 2 billion doses promised via contracts and options, Chief Financial Officer Jens Holstein said at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference. 

“We expect further contracts to be signed in the months to come and throughout the year,” Holstein said. “There is a high likelihood that to a certain extent there are additional vaccinations needed.” 

BioNTech’s American depositary receipts fell 4.3%. 

On Monday, Covid vaccine competitor Moderna Inc. said it had signed purchase agreements worth $18.5 billion for this year, along with options for another $3.5 billion.  

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