Novavax’s stock skyrocketed on Friday after the company said final-phase tests showed that its coronavirus vaccine was 96.4% effective against the original viral strain that causes Covid-19.
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The two-dose regimen prevented 100% of serious Covid cases, including hospitalization and death, in the UK study. Novavax (NVAX) also reported the results of the intermediate tests in South Africa. There, his vaccine was 55.4% effective against infection in HIV-negative participants. A South African strain has been more difficult to target for vaccines.
Thursday marked “a year since the World Health Organization officially declared the Covid-19 pandemic, and with that data in hand, we are even more motivated to advance our vaccine as a potential weapon in the fight to end suffering. caused by Covid-19, “Novavax Chief Executive Stanley Erck said in a written statement.
In the stock market today, Novavax shares jumped 8.1% to 202.77.
Novavax inventory increase in phase 3 test
The UK study involved more than 15,000 participants aged 18-84. Of these, 27% were volunteers over 65 years old.
In addition to being 96.4% protective against the original strain, the vaccine also blocked 86.3% of Covid’s cases due to a mutant strain first identified in the UK. The UK strain is believed to be more contagious, although it has not largely escaped vaccines.
Among people aged 65 and over, there were 10 cases of Covid-19 and 90% of them occurred in the placebo group.
The South Africa study involved 2,665 healthy adults. A smaller group of 240 included clinically stable HIV-positive adults. Overall, the drug was 48.6% effective against predominantly variant strains, Novavax said. HIV-negative participants saw 55.4% effectiveness.
Actions continue their fury
Novavax’s stock is on the rise as hopes for its coronavirus vaccine soar.
Numerically, the 96.4% effectiveness is better than the results of Pfizer (PFE), Modern (MRNA) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ). All three have vaccines authorized in the USA. In the final testing phase, their vaccines were 95%, 94.1% and 66% effective against the virus, respectively. The J&J vaccine is the only injectable drug in the package.
A new analysis from Israel earlier this week suggested that Pfizer BioNTech The Covid vaccine associated with BNTX can be 97% effective two weeks after the second dose.
It is important to note that experts generally do not recommend making comparisons between studies due to differences in patient populations and goals. Until then, Novavax and J&J tested their vaccines at a time when variants were emerging. Pfizer and Moderna did not notice the changes in their press releases at the time.
The increase in Novavax’s shares this year is reflected in its best possible Relative Strength Rating of 99. The RS Rating assesses the performance of a stock in 12 months against all other stocks. This puts Novavax shares at the top 1% of all shares to that extent, according to IBD Digital.
Follow Allison Gatlin on Twitter at @IBD_AGatlin.
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