Biotech ETFs To Gain As Coronavirus Vaccine Hopes Strengthen
The world’s largest economy’s new coronavirus case count touched another record level of 50,023 on July 1, surpassing the previous high of 45,255 set on June 26. In response to the worsening conditions, around 23 states have held back or paused the reopening process in the United States, per a CNN report. Globally also, the scenario looks grim as the total number of coronavirus cases have crossed the 10-million mark.
In such a scenario, investors are eyeing developments in vaccine or treatments to combat the pandemic and thus, Pfizer’s PFE positive announcement regarding the coronavirus vaccine provided some support to the Wall Street on July 1. The U.S.-based pharmaceutical giant’s shares rose 3% after it announced positive results from its early-stage human trial which evaluated 45 people.
Going by the preliminary data, Pfizer, which is working with its Germany-based partner BioNTech, informed that one of its four candidates for the coronavirus vaccine has successfully generated neutralizing antibodies in all participants, who were given two of the 10 or 30 microgram doses after 28 days (per a CNBC article). Notably, every participant in the trial was administered 10, 30 or 100 microgram doses of the vaccine. Moreover, the company also informed that the levels of neutralizing antibodies were 1.8 to 2.8 times more in the trial participants than in recovered coronavirus patients. The results were posted in a paper, which was released on MedRXiv, according to a CNBC article.
Pfizer is aiming to start its mid-stage trial by as early as this month. It is worth noting here that, Pfizer is targeting to produce up to 100 million doses by the end of this year and more than 1.2 billion doses by the end of 2021.
Other Developments in Vaccine Research
Infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, is mildly expecting scientists to develop a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine by early 2021, per a CNBC article. According to the World Health Organization, more than 100 vaccines are currently under development. Notably, the FDA has issued guidance documents for companies that are developing a vaccine to prevent coronavirus in order to get approval for the same. The guidance specifies the data that the companies need to submit in order to get approval for their COVID-19 vaccines.
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Are Biotech investments a risky choice? Meaning, whoever discovers the vaccine first will be extremely successful and the others...
According to Anthony Faucci, it's likely multiple companies will develop a vaccine, and there will certainly be more than enough buyers. And it's not like COVID-19 is the ONLY thing these companies are working on.