News of progress in the development of a potential COVID-19 vaccine has recently become volatile.
With more than 100 vaccines currently in various stages of development worldwide and eight in clinical studies according to the World Health Organization, a variety of biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies race to deliver a vaccine for COVID 19, which has infected nearly 5 million people worldwide and killed more than 323,341 people.
Here are five companies that are promising in developing a vaccine:
1. Moderna
Vaccine: mRNA-1273
Development: Phase 1 study completed, Phase 2 study begins
Moderna (NASDAQ :), whose inventory increased by 19.96% on Monday after the company shared news of the success of its Phase 1 vaccine trial, is a biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of drugs and vaccines that are genetically contain material called messenger RNA or mRNA.
Shares are up 266% so far in 2020, with investors betting that the company will emerge as one of the leaders in delivering a COVID-19 vaccine.
The Cambridge, Massachusetts-based company was in focus this week after sharing a news release on May 18 announcing positive data on the Phase 1 human trial for its candidate vaccine COVID-19 , mRNA-1273. The trial included 45 participants, 8 of whom developed antibodies to the virus.
The company, which has quickly worked with the National Institutes of Health to develop a vaccine, is the first to share the results of human trials with a potential coronavirus vaccine.
Despite the non-publication of the full data set forth in the press release and the subsequent investigation of these concerns by investors, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has already approved Moderna for a phase 2 study, in which 600 participants will participate . The company said it then expects to start a phase 3 study in July, pending regulatory approval.
If the vaccine proves to be effective and safe to use, it could be ready for the market in early 2021, Moderna reported.
2. Inovio Pharmaceuticals
Vaccine: INO-4800
Development: phase 1 study, phase 2 is expected later this summer
Inovio Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ 🙂 is a late-stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of synthetic DNA immunotherapies and vaccines for the treatment of cancers and infectious diseases.
Inovio's stock is about a whopping 220% year-to-date. It is widely considered to be one of the front runners among companies developing a COVID-19 vaccine.
The Pennsylvania-based biotech company is currently conducting a phase 1 clinical trial of INO-4800 in 40 healthy adult volunteers, making it the second potential COVID-19 vaccine to be tested by humans after the offer of Moderna.
Preliminary Phase 1 data is expected in late June and Phase 2 and 3 clinical trials are planned for later this summer, pending regulatory approval
Inovio reported earlier this month, with both revenues if revenues missed the forecasts. Despite the weak results, investors were pleased to learn that Inovio is progressing rapidly into the early stages of its COVID-19 vaccine development.
3. Novavax
Vaccine: NVX-CoV2373
Development: preclinical
Novavax (NASDAQ 🙂 is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of vaccines and adjuvants. Through its recombinant nanoparticle vaccination technology, it produces vaccine candidates to respond to both known and emerging diseases.
The shares of the high-flying biotech company from Gaithersburg, Maryland, grow by as much as 1,245% year over year. date amid bullish betting, his candidate for the coronavirus vaccine will become a major source of income in the coming years.
Novavax for the first quarter when it reported a loss of 58 cents per share on revenues of $ 3.4 million earlier this month. Analysts expected a loss of 69 cents per share and revenue of $ 1.9 million.
More importantly, the biotech company announced in its earnings report that the Oslo-based nonprofit for epidemic preparedness innovations will invest $ 384 million to advance the clinical development of its candidate vaccine for SARS-CoV -2, NVX-CoV2373.
Novavax plans to start human trials in May with preliminary results expected in July.
Honorable mentions
4. Johnson & Johnson
Vaccine: Ad26 SARS-CoV-2
Development: Phase 1 study planned for September
Johnson & Johnson (NYSE 🙂 began investigating vaccine candidates in January, as soon as the COVID-19 sequence became available.
Johnson & Johnson Daily Chart
A phase 1 clinical trial of the new coronavirus vaccine is scheduled for September, with data on safety and efficacy by the end of the year. If all goes well, the vaccine could be ready "for emergencies" in early 2021.
As part of this commitment, Johnson & Johnson will expand its manufacturing capacity in the US and other countries to enable the delivery of more than 1 billion doses of the vaccine when it is ready.
5. Pfizer
Vaccine: BNT162
Development: clinical trials
Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer (NYSE :), which is working with German drug manufacturer BioNTech (NASDAQ 🙂 on the development of a coronavirus vaccine, says it should have the first data from its first phase clinical trial from mid-late June.
The New York-based company is currently testing four different vaccine variants. If one or two variations point to success, Pfizer will step up clinical trials and launch a large-scale large study with thousands of participants in September.
CEO Albert Bourla said that if the vaccine proves to be safe, the company "will be able to deliver millions of doses in the October period." The company plans to produce hundreds of millions of doses by 2021, he added.
