The race for a coronavirus vaccine heats up
Biotech shares, led by AstraZeneca, are lifted in the race to come up with a coronavirus vaccine.
Shares in AstraZeneca bounced this week after the US government signalled that it is considering fast-track approval for the group’s Covid-19 vaccine. In April AstraZeneca agreed a deal with Oxford University, which originally discovered the vaccine, to develop and distribute it.
The government could ask the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to grant an “emergency use authorisation” (EUA) based on data from the final-stage UK trial, rather than wait for the more extended study normally required by US regulators. Such a move, possible as early as September, would allow President Donald Trump to claim he has “turned the tide” on the virus. Not so fast, say Rhys Blakely and Henry Zeffman in The Times. AstraZeneca says it is “too early” to begin talks with US regulators about an EUA. Nonetheless, 17,000 people have been enrolled in trials in Britain, South Africa and Brazil. So if enough data emerged to convince AstraZeneca to apply for an EUA, the FDA would be under pressure to grant it quickly. It has already approved 21 Covid-19 drugs, including an antibody treatment, on an emergency basis.
Meanwhile, says Bloomberg, Pfizer and BioNTech claim that their joint Covid-19 vaccine is “on track” to be submitted for regulatory review “as early as October”. The companies, which recently clinched a $2bn deal to supply 100 million doses to the US government, released more detailed data from early-stage trials suggesting that the drug was “well tolerated” with “mild to moderate fever in fewer than 20% of participants”.
Subscribe to MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE
Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Sign up to Money Morning
Our team, led by award winning editors, is dedicated to delivering you the top news, analysis, and guides to help you manage your money, grow your investments and build wealth.
Matthew graduated from the University of Durham in 2004; he then gained an MSc, followed by a PhD at the London School of Economics.
He has previously written for a wide range of publications, including the Guardian and the Economist, and also helped to run a newsletter on terrorism. He has spent time at Lehman Brothers, Citigroup and the consultancy Lombard Street Research.
Matthew is the author of Superinvestors: Lessons from the greatest investors in history, published by Harriman House, which has been translated into several languages. His second book, Investing Explained: The Accessible Guide to Building an Investment Portfolio, is published by Kogan Page.
As senior writer, he writes the shares and politics & economics pages, as well as weekly Blowing It and Great Frauds in History columns He also writes a fortnightly reviews page and trading tips, as well as regular cover stories and multi-page investment focus features.
Follow Matthew on Twitter: @DrMatthewPartri
-
Higher rates are disappearing – should you fix your savings?
Fixed savings rates have dropped to their lowest levels in over a year. Should you fix your savings now ahead of a potential base rate cut in November?
By Katie Williams Published
-
Nine million people fall victim to financial scams, says Citizens Advice
The charity says that around one in five people across the UK have been caught out by a finance scam in the past year - here is how to protect your money
By Chris Newlands Published
-
What will a broken-up Google look like?
The US courts have ruled that Google is a monopoly, leaving it facing the prospect of a break-up. WIll that be a good thing?
By Matthew Lynn Published
-
How will the UK gambling sector be hit by the Budget?
There are concerns for the UK gambling sector in the lead-up to the Autumn Budget. What could be on the cards?
By Dr Matthew Partridge Published
-
HSBC returns to cost-cutting plan
HSBC is set to revamp its commercial banking division – but will it come at a cost?
By Dr Matthew Partridge Published
-
Will European stocks bounce back?
European stocks have looked unattractive for some time – will they bounce back?
By Alex Rankine Published
-
British American Tobacco goes smokeless – can it survive?
British American Tobacco’s core product is struggling, but new areas bode well, says Bruce Packard
By Bruce Packard Published
-
Pfizer shares rise as US investor takes $1 billion stake
Pfizer shares are on the up since US activist investor Starboard Value built up a stake in the drug maker. But strategic options appear limited
By Dr Matthew Partridge Published
-
LSL Property Services: a profit-machine in the property sector
LSL covers every area of the residential real estate market and should thrive after its shake-up
By Rupert Hargreaves Published
-
Global car shares slide amid lower demand in China – what happens now?
Has the car sector run into trouble? Britain’s Aston Martin and Germany’s Volkswagen are among the key automobile brands that have issued profit warnings.
By Alex Rankine Published