Turkish researchers Ugur Sahin and Ozlem Tureci, who developed a coronavirus vaccine in less than a year, were chosen as People of the Year by Financial Times.
“The couple achieved a remarkable scientific and business success,” the London-based newspapers noted.
Founded in 2008 by Dr. Sahin and Dr. Tureci in Germany, the pharmaceutical company BioNTech partnered with US-based Pfizer to develop coronavirus vaccine, which was announced it is effective more than 90 percent against the virus.
“A TRIUMPH OF INNOVATION”
“Even a few months ago, scientists suggested it would be a major achievement to get a vaccine so quickly that was 70 per cent effective,” the newspaper said. “Instead, there are at least three that could be 90 per cent plus. Taken together, they represent a triumph of innovation.”
“THEY ARE THE SYMBOL OF A SUCCESS STORY”
“They are the symbol of a remarkable scientific and business success story,” it added.
Both Sahin and Tureci were born to immigrant parents from Turkey who moved to Germany in the 1960s.