[ahartmetz]

The BioNTech-Pfizer vaccine was AFAIK developed entirely in Germany by BioNTech. Pfizer helped with regulatory affairs, logistics and mass production.

It is also interesting that three key people at BioNTech (founders and an original developer of mRNA medicine) are immigrants. That is an interesting similarity to SV. Soundcloud was also started by two Swedes in Berlin. That one is probably entirely due to the cultural capital of Berlin - from what I hear, Sweden is a good place for software businesses.

[relativ575]

mRNA vaccine was originated in the US in the 1980s [1]. BioNTech got in the mRNA game thanks to Katalin Kariko, who was a professor at UPenn [2].

Moderna started working at mRNA based approach in the similar timeframe, and get similar results. Also what does it tell you that Moderna can do trial and manufacturing on its own, as opposed to BioNTech who has to rely on Pfizer? Trial was absolutely vital in order to bring the vaccine to the mass that quickly, and Pfizer's role was essential.

Of course Katalin is also Hungarian, so again, it goes to prove that things are complicated than it appears.

[1] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RNA_vaccine

[2] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katalin_Karik%C3%B3

[ahartmetz]

Katalin Kariko is the third key person at BioNTech that I mentioned ;)