Covid Vaccine Maker BioNTech Plans to Target Superbugs Next

Covid-19 vaccine maker BioNTech SE plans to develop targeted antibiotics that could be used against superbugs, bacteria that are resistant to more conventional antibiotics.

The German company is working on a type of synthetic antimicrobial called a Ribolysin, which could be deployed against antibiotics-resistant bacteria, Chief Medical Officer Ozlem Tureci said in a presentation to investors on Wednesday. The first patient trials of the platform should begin next year, Chief Executive Officer Ugur Sahin said.

“The vision is here to build a new category of precision antibacterials,” Sahin said. The technology could also allow doctors to target only dangerous bacteria, ...