COVID-19, short for “Coronavirus Disease 2019,” is a contagious disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). First identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, COVID-19 quickly led to a global pandemic declared by the World Health Organization in March 2020. The disease primarily spreads through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, talks, or breathes. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and may include fever, cough, difficulty breathing, fatigue, body aches, and loss of taste or smell. Severe cases can lead to pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and death, particularly among older adults and individuals with underlying health conditions. Preventative measures include vaccination, mask-wearing, social distancing, and hand hygiene. The pandemic has significantly impacted global health systems, economies, and daily life.
BioNTech is pivoting from COVID-19 vaccines to innovative cancer treatments, leveraging mRNA technology to enhance immune system responses against cancer cells, with a target for market approval by 2026. Financial…