The end of the era of the COVID-19 pandemic: Pfizer Inc. (PFE.US) plans to sell off its shares in BioNTech (BNTX.US), marking the conclusion of their iconic vaccine partnership.

Pfizer Inc. (PFE.US) is seeking to sell its remaining stake in COVID-19 vaccine partner BioNTech (BNTX.US), with one of the most profitable collaborations in the new coronavirus epidemic gradually coming to an end. According to sources, Pfizer Inc. plans to sell approximately 4.55 million American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) through overnight block trades, priced in a range of $108 to $111.70 per share. If calculated at the upper end of the price range, this stake sale will bring Pfizer Inc. approximately $508 million in profit. The two companies partnered in 2020 to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, which generated billions of dollars in revenue globally and secured supply agreements with the US and EU governments during the peak of the pandemic. Pfizer Inc.'s investment in BioNTech's shares was part of the collaboration agreement. Currently, both parties continue to collaborate on developing COVID-19 vaccine formulations based on BioNTech's proprietary mRNA technology and share profits. Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. went through a fierce bidding war last week and ultimately acquired obesity startup Metsera Inc. for $10 billion, partly to replace the shrinking revenue from the COVID-19 business with a blockbuster weight-loss drug. As the pandemic comes to an end, BioNTech has returned to its original focus on cancer treatment research, using the accumulated funds to support the research. The company also signed a collaboration agreement worth up to $11 billion with Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.