German vaccine manufacturer BioNTech to sponsor Bundesliga side Mainz

German vaccine manufacturer BioNTech is to sponsor Bundesliga side Mainz, the club announced on Friday.

Mainz said the biotechnology company, which is based in the western city, will support the club in all sporting departments.

BioNTech became well known during the global pandemic for producing a coronavirus vaccine.

It is the first partnership of this kind for the company, said chief financial officer Jens Holstein in a press release.

After years of record revenue during the pandemic, BioNTech suffered a net loss of €1.12 billion over the first half of 2024 as it seeks to develop new products, including to treat cancer.

The company is aiming to secure market approval for a cancer drug in 2026.