Bayer, Vidac Pharma, BioNTech – Making money with biotech and pharmaceutical innovations

Bayer - Setting the financial course in a turbulent environment

Pharmaceutical and agricultural giant Bayer is navigating a strategically crucial year. After the Company met its adjusted targets in 2024, 2025 is a year of transition. Sales are expected to stagnate, while profits and free cash flow are expected to decline. CEO Bill Anderson emphasizes the importance of this "key year" for consolidation. Net financial debt stands at EUR 32.6 billion, having been reduced by 5.4% last year. However, short-term pressures such as the planned share issue and a dividend cut to EUR 0.11 per share reflect the challenges. From 2026, the Company expects a noticeable recovery, supported by efficiency programs and debt reduction.

In the Crop Science division, a five-year plan aims for an EBITDA margin of over 20% by 2029. The plan includes portfolio optimizations, innovation-driven sales increases of EUR 3.5 billion, and cost savings in production and distribution. At the same time, the pharmaceutical division is driving forward its growth. Together, drugs such as Nubeqa and Kerendia are expected to generate revenue of around EUR 2.5 billion by 2025, complemented by market launches such as the heart drug Beyonttra. Revenue is expected to increase again from 2027. The patent expiration of the anticoagulant Xarelto remains critical, continuing to put pressure on margins.

In addition to operational hurdles, the Roundup lawsuits are weighing on Bayer. The Company is aiming for a significant risk reduction by the end of 2026. At the same time, a collaboration with the biotech company Hurdle is causing a stir. The jointly developed saliva test InflammAge measures chronic inflammation as a biomarker for aging processes. The non-invasive method could revolutionize preventive health solutions and open up new markets in the long term. For investors, Bayer remains a mix of short-term volatility and long-term potential. The stock is currently trading at EUR 23.62.

Vidac Pharma - New hope in cancer research

Vidac Pharma has attracted attention at the First Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Meeting in Jerusalem. Dr. Max Herzberg, CEO of the Company, presented data on the drug candidate VDA-1102, which successfully penetrated the blood-brain barrier in a 5-year-old patient as part of a special program. "This is a significant milestone that opens up new possibilities for breakthrough therapies in brain diseases," emphasized Herzberg. The ability to achieve therapeutic concentrations in the tumor could revolutionize the treatment of aggressive brain diseases, not only in children.

The Company is simultaneously pursuing the development of two drug candidates. The most advanced is VDA-1102, which has already successfully completed a first Phase 2b trial in skin cancers such as actinic keratosis (AK) and is ready for another Phase 2b. In addition, the compound is being tested in a Phase 2 study for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). VDA-1275, a systemically acting compound against solid tumors, is in preclinical studies and has already demonstrated some success. Both candidates aim to reverse the Warburg effect – a metabolic anomaly in cancer cells. In 2024, Vidac secured extended patent protection in the US that covers applications for prostate, pancreatic, and other cancers. Combining a precision medicine approach and a broad IP portfolio strengthens the Company's competitive position.

For the future, Vidac Pharma has positioned itself as a key partner for the development of combination cancer therapies. Preclinical data shows synergistic effects of VDA-1275 with commonly used chemotherapeutic agents, which could spark interest from large pharmaceutical companies. The Company is also planning initial clinical trials for the systemic drug candidate starting in Q3 2025. With a focus on "first-in-class" therapies and expansion to other indications - including rare cancers - Vidac could set new treatment standards in the long term. The strategic focus on unmet medical needs underscores the potential to become a pioneer in metabolic oncology. The stock is currently trading at EUR 0.57.

BioNTech - Between revenue pressure and innovation boost

BioNTech looks back on an ambivalent 2024. Revenues fell to EUR 2.8 billion, down 28% from 2023, driven by declining COVID-19 vaccine sales and write-offs by partner Pfizer. The net loss amounted to EUR 665 million, yet the Company maintains solid liquidity of EUR 17.4 billion. For 2025, BioNTech expects revenue of EUR 1.7 to 2.2 billion, which is below analyst estimates. The Company is focusing on transforming itself into an oncology specialist and has a well-stocked pipeline.

The acquisition of Chinese biotech company Biotheus in February 2025 marks a milestone. BioNTech secured global rights to the bispecific antibody BNT327, which is in Phase 3 trials for lung and breast cancer. With over 20 ongoing Phase 2/3 studies and the goal of marketing an oncology product for the first time by 2026, the Company is focusing on combination therapies involving mRNA-based immunotherapies and antibodies. The integration of Biotheus is also strengthening manufacturing capabilities in Asia.

2025 could be a decisive year for the company. Numerous clinical data, including updates on BNT327 and mRNA therapies, are expected to show that the pipeline has great potential. Despite declining COVID-19 revenues, BioNTech continues to invest heavily in research and development, with between EUR 2.6 and 2.8 billion planned for 2025. The combination of antibodies and mRNA technology could secure long-term competitive advantages. For investors, the question remains whether the promising oncology strategy will also lead to commercial products – and when this will be reflected in the share price. The share has reached a significant support level at EUR 89.80 and currently stands at EUR 90.60.

Bayer is fighting against its image as a litigation-prone company with partnerships like InflammAge Diagnostics, showing how tradition can maintain its future viability through biotech collaborations. Vidac Pharma, on the other hand, is proving that small players with new therapeutic approaches – such as overcoming the blood-brain barrier – can achieve great things, even if the stock market has not yet priced in these breakthroughs. BioNTech aims to rewrite the mRNA success story. Instead of vaccines, the pioneer is now delivering cancer cocktails which, despite declining COVID revenues, are still fueling hope.