The U.S. biotech stocks mentioned are in various stages of developing a COVID-19 vaccine
Capital Ideas Media | May 8, 2020 | SmallCapPower: Capital Ideas Media Publisher Mark Bunting wrote: It’s been said that the only way to break the grip of fear the COVID-19 pandemic has on investors is for some positive news headlines that a vaccine for the virus is getting closer, and/or that the infection rate for the coronavirus starts to decelerate.
(Originally published on Capital Ideas Media on March 24, 2020)
Here are five U.S. biotechs that are in various stages of developing a vaccine, according Tolu Ajiboye at coinspeaker.com
Gilead Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD)
Since the epidemic began Gilead Sciences was the first to announce a possible treatment for the new coronavirus COVID-19 strain.
Gilead’s treatment is through Remdesivir, an antiviral drug that proved effective in fighting Ebola. After a doctor administered the drug with nothing but hope, Remdesivir did a fantastic job of eliminating most major symptoms.
The company is now conducting further tests and has already begun clinical trials in both the U.S. and China.
Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:INO)
U.S.-based Inovio Pharmaceuticals said it has already created a coronavirus vaccine. Dubbing it INO-4800, the company wants to begin human trials in a few months.
Inovio stock is up about 224% year to date (as of the May 7 closing price) as the news has made it a lot more valuable. Inovio CEO Joseph Kim even said that the virus sequence allowed the company to create a vaccine “in a matter of a few hours.”
Moderna Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA)
Moderna Inc stock has also jumped this year, rising on news of its own treatment product.
Moderna said that it sent its coronavirus vaccine to the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and it plans to start a clinical trial in April. Moderna’s vaccine was created and sent off to the Institute in 42 days.
Novavax Inc. (NASDAQ:NVAX)
Of the biotech companies, Novavax is easily the biggest mover. Since 2020 began, NVAX has jumped more than 356% (as of the May 7 closing price).
However, efforts at a coronavirus vaccine might not be the only reason Novavax is soaring. Even though it has also said human trials will start soon, its experimental NanoFlu vaccine and the success people hope for has spiked NVAX stock.
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:REGN)
Regeneron’s efforts at a coronavirus vaccine is somewhat similar to that of Gilead. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals is building on Ebola knowledge, to create a potent weapon for COVID-19. It should begin clinical trials before November.
The above companies may be a decent hedge for the uncertainty COVID-19 brings to the rest of the financial market.
However, experts are warning that creating and approving a vaccine isn’t a straight road and might take another few years. Even then, efforts must be coordinated on a global scale, a very difficult task.
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