Özlem Türeci is a renowned Turkish- German physician, scientist, and entrepreneur who co-founded two successful biotechnology companies, Ganymed Pharmaceuticals and BioNTech. She is widely recognized for her contributions to the field of immunotherapy and for her instrumental role in developing the first mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine.
Türeci was born in Germany in 1967 to Turkish parents. She studied medicine at the Saarland University in Germany and completed her doctorate in immunology at the University of Homburg. After completing her studies, Türeci worked as a resident physician at the University of Zurich and the Saarland University Hospital.
In 2001, Türeci co-founded Ganymed Pharmaceuticals with her husband, Ugur Sahin. The company focused on developing immunotherapies for cancer treatment and was successful in developing a novel antibody therapy for ovarian cancer. In 2016, the company was acquired by Astellas Pharma for $1.4 billion.
Following the success of Ganymed Pharmaceuticals, Türeci and Sahin co-founded BioNTech in 2008. The company is focused on developing personalized cancer immunotherapies based on mRNA technology. In 2020, BioNTech partnered with Pfizer to develop an mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine, which became the first mRNA vaccine authorized for emergency use in the United States in December 2020.
Türeci’s contributions to the field of immunotherapy and her role in developing the COVID-19 vaccine have made her one of the wealthiest women in Germany. According to Forbes, Türeci’s net worth is estimated to be approximately $4.4 billion as of 2021.
Despite her immense wealth, Türeci remains committed to her work and continues to lead BioNTech in its efforts to develop innovative solutions to improve human health. She has been recognized with numerous awards for her contributions to medicine and biotechnology, including the German Federal Cross of Merit and the Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize. Türeci serves as the Chief Medical Officer of BioNTech and is widely respected as a leader in the field of biotechnology.
Here’s a timeline of Özlem Türeci’s life and career:
1967 – Türeci is born in Germany to Turkish parents.
1987-1994 – Türeci studies medicine at the Saarland University in Germany.
1994-1999 – Türeci completes her doctorate in immunology at the University of Homburg.
1999-2000 – Türeci works as a resident physician at the University of Zurich and the Saarland University Hospital.
2001 – Türeci co-founds Ganymed Pharmaceuticals with her husband, Ugur Sahin.
2016 – Ganymed Pharmaceuticals is acquired by Astellas Pharma for $1.4 billion.
2008 – Türeci and Sahin co-found BioNTech, focused on developing personalized cancer immunotherapies based on mRNA technology.
2020 – BioNTech partners with Pfizer to develop an mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine.
December 2020 – The BioNTech-Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine becomes the first mRNA vaccine authorized for emergency use in the United States.
2021 – Forbes estimates Türeci’s net worth to be approximately $4.4 billion.
Throughout her career, Türeci has been recognized with numerous awards for her contributions to medicine and biotechnology, including the German Federal Cross of Merit and the Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize. She continues to serve as the Chief Medical Officer of BioNTech and is widely respected as a leader in the field of biotechnology.
5 Interesting Facts:
- Türeci’s parents were Turkish immigrants who moved to Germany in the 1960s.
- In addition to her work in medicine and biotechnology, Türeci is also an accomplished musician and has played the violin since childhood.
- Türeci and her husband, Ugur Sahin, work closely together in their roles as co-founders of both Ganymed Pharmaceuticals and BioNTech.
- Türeci is known for her humility and dedication to her work, often shunning the spotlight in favor of focusing on the science.
- Türeci has said that she is motivated by a desire to make a positive impact on human health and improve the lives of patients.
5 Quotes:
- “I’ve always been interested in the interface between the immune system and cancer.”
- “I believe in following my passion, which is to make a positive impact on human health.”
- “We are trying to push the limits of science to benefit patients.”
- “We are a very focused and dedicated team, and we believe that we can make a difference in the lives of patients.”
- “I’m not motivated by money, but rather by the opportunity to make a real difference in the world.”
