Joining the race for mRNA therapies, BioNTech AG has signed a multi-year deal with Pfizer to develop mRNA vaccine targeting influenza in a deal worth potentially US$425 M. The companies will jointly conduct research and development activities where Pfizer will take sole responsibility for further clinical development and commercialisation of the mRNA-based flu vaccines following the completion of BioNTech’s first-in-human clinical study. This deal marks the first venture into mRNA vaccines for infectious disease in humans for both companies against major competition from the likes of CureVac and Sanofi.