BioNTech has named the head of Swedish pharmaceutical company Sobi to be its next CEO, marking the latest step of a transformation that will see the prominent messenger RNA drugmaker become more of an oncology specialist. Guido Oelkers, who has run the rare disease-focused Sobi since 2017, will take over for co-founder and former CEO Ugur Sahin by Feb. 1, 2027. Vaccines built on mRNA technology have since been under intense scrutiny. In a statement, BioNTech referred to Oelkers as a “seasoned CEO and strategic leader” with more than three decades of experience in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries. Oelkers “has consistently demonstrated sound strategic leadership in global organizations, seamlessly transforming scientific excellence into commercial success,” said BioNTech chairperson Helmut Jeggle, in a statement.