Pfizer developed the first commercially successful mRNA COVID-19 vaccine with BioNTech.
The vaccine was marketed as Comirnaty and was developed through a partnership between Pfizer and the German biotechnology company BioNTech. It became the first COVID-19 vaccine to receive emergency authorization in the United States in December 2020 and later received full approval for specified age groups.
The partnership helped make Pfizer one of the most closely watched pharmaceutical companies in the world. Its market capitalization and earnings were affected by vaccine demand, later antiviral products, and changing expectations after the acute phase of the pandemic.
A frequent mix-up is crediting Pfizer alone for the scientific platform. BioNTech brought important mRNA expertise and vaccine candidates, while Pfizer contributed development, clinical-trial, regulatory, manufacturing, and distribution capabilities.