These 2 Coronavirus Stocks Could Soar in the Second Half of 2020

https://www.fool.com/investing/2020/07/15/these-2-coronavirus-stocks-could-soar-in-the-secon.aspx

Both Moderna and Vaxart are expecting data readouts that will send the stocks skyrocketing – if the news is positive.

Since Moderna has no approved drugs and its COVID-19 vaccine is the furthest along in development much of the company's future is riding on this play. If it works, Moderna's science is validated, and the company's pipeline is far more valuable than it is today. If, however, the company's COVID-19 vaccine fails its review, the stock drop will be precipitous. We'll know more by the end of the year.

This dark horse might emerge as a big winner

Vaxart is way behind Moderna and other Operation Warp Speed drugmakers like AstraZeneca (NYSE:AZN) and Pfizer (NYSE:PFE). These larger competitors are set to begin phase 3 trials in July. And they have the money to produce and distribute large amounts of a vaccine around the world.

Vaxart has none of that – yet. Back in April, the company announced that its COVID-19 vaccine had been successful in animal models. Last month the micro-cap was elevated to the big time when the government's Operation Warp Speed (OWS) program selected its vaccine candidate for a confirmation animal study. This news was really big because, like many tiny biotechs, Vaxart is starved for cash. While the company has raised another $90 million just this week, that's still not enough to pay for an expensive phase 3 trial involving thousands of people. But now that OWS is involved, money is no longer an issue. If Vaxart's science is validated in the government's confirmation study, more funding will follow.

Of course, in terms of speed, Vaxart is lagging most of its competitors. The tiny biotech has almost no chance of being first to market. And yet that might not matter. Indeed, its vaccine candidate might prove to be the most valuable of all. That's because Vaxart's COVID-19 vaccine is not a shot, but a pill.

Vaxart's entire vaccine platform is based on oral medication. Back in 2018, its tablet influenza vaccine defeated FluZone, the vaccine from market leader Sanofi (NASDAQ:SNY), in a phase 2 head-to-head study. Vaxart's oral flu vaccine reduced infection rates by 47 percent, compared with 43 percent from FluZone.

Like Moderna, Vaxart has signed agreements to produce a billion doses of its vaccine next year. And an oral medication if it works will give the company a logistical advantage in terms of ease of use. Vaxart's drug candidate is the only oral vaccine being evaluated by OWS.

>>9970394

Covid-19 pandemic: the need for second-generation vaccines

https://www.pharmaceutical-technology.com/features/covid19-vaccines/

Looking to third-generation vaccines

Soon-Shiong is clear that long-term duration of immunity challenges will be solved by second-generation vaccines such as Immunity Bio and NantKwest’s candidate.

Their vaccine, which is part of the US Government’s Operation Warp Speed, is ready to launch into Phase I clinical trials this summer with early safety and preliminary efficacy results expected before the end of the year.

However, there is a need for further innovations so that the vaccine can be administered without injections to overcome access challenges, particularly in developing countries.

“If we could achieve an oral form, which is not unrealistic, that would be the third generation Covid-19 vaccine,” Soon-Shiong notes.

This is an avenue that ImmunityBio and NantKwest are pursuing for their Covid-19 vaccine candidate, but it is currently early in development, according to Soon-Shiong. Their oral capsule approach would avoid “significant cold chain requirements of all current vaccine approaches”, Safrit states.

It would also introduce the prospect of conferring “mucosal immunity, generation [of] which could significantly improve the ability of the vaccine to protect against infection and disease.”

Oral vaccines: spotlight on Stabilitech and Vaxart

Other companies slightly further along with their oral vaccines include the UK’s Stabilitech and US-based Vaxart.

Stabilitech’s OraPro-COVID-19, which is developed using its proprietary OraPro technology platform, aims to confer both mucosal and systemic immunity to patients in a thermally stable way. Clinical trials for this vaccine are expected to begin in August this year.

The company has recently completed a fundraising round and signed a manufacturing agreement with BioCell Corporation in New Zealand. Talking about this news, Stabilitech chairman Wayne Channon stated: “It brings us closer to providing a vaccine that gives both mucosal and systemic immunity to Covid-19.

“This will target the virus exactly where we catch it: in the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose, throat and even the eyes.

“By taking this approach, we believe OraPro-COVID-19 could prove to provide the fastest route to widespread global immunity, turning the tide on the pandemic.”

Vaxart’s oral vaccine approach relies on its VAAST delivery platform. It delivers two payloads to cells in the small bowel epithelium; the second of the payloads acts like an adjuvant to further activate the immune system against the selected viral antigen.

Like ImmunityBio and NantKwest’s candidate, Vaxart’s oral approach is one of the projects chosen to be part of the US Government’s Operation Warp Speed. Following on from positive pre-clinical results in April, Vaxart’s candidate is on track to move into clinical studies this summer.

Talking about this announcement, Vaxart CEO Andrei Floroiu said: “We are very pleased to be one of the few companies selected by Operation Warp Speed, and that ours is the only oral vaccine being evaluated.

“SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, is primarily transmitted by viral particles that enter through the mucosa – nose, mouth or eyes – strongly suggesting that mucosal immunity could serve as the first line of defence.

“In addition, our vaccine is a room temperature-stable tablet, an enormous logistical advantage in large vaccination campaigns.”

>>9970460

How can you force people to take a tablet?

Technical tip

It's enteric coated meaning it is protected from stomach acids to get to the small intestine. Ask for some water to swallow the tablet. As you raise the water to your lips, crush the tablet between two molars. Any biological material in the tablet will be destroyed by stomach acid. Just take a small sip of water to wash it down. Then go eat some meat. A steak. Sausages and eggs. Protein digestion causes more acid to be produced.

But make sure you have extra strength Zinc supplements and strong green tea, or Quercetin supplements, on hand in case you get sick.

>>9970539

CHAZ? CLAT?

ChA place

ClA place (yes that is a small L but you can see what I am getting at)