BioNTech has terminated a Phase 2 trial of its experimental mRNA cancer shot autogene cevumeran (BNT122) after an independent monitoring board found an imbalance in overall survival, with development partner Genentech confirming there were “more deaths in the vaccine arm.”
BioNTech co-developed the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 mRNA vaccine sold as Comirnaty.
The cancer jab termination came about 10 months after the trial had already crossed a prespecified futility boundary but was allowed to continue.
Public European trial records show that new patients continued to be recruited for roughly six months after the futility boundary was crossed, with recruitment continuing in Germany until April 28, 2026.