In what sounds like an attempt at a “stick save” after pretty modest panicky action in stocks this afternoon, a senior official administration official says production of a potential coronavirus vaccine is expected to begin before the end of the summer.
The hope is to be able to deliver 300M doses by early 2021, and the process to begin manufacturing is underway even though no one is sure which vaccine will work, if any.
The Nasdaq reversed an early 1.5% advance to close down 2.1%. The S&P 500 also negated a big gain to close down 0.95%.
Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA) is ahead 2.35% in after hours action. Vanda Pharma (NASDAQ:VNDA) +9.9%.
Innovation Pharmaceuticals (OTCQB:IPIX -23.9%) expects to advance Brilacidin, for the treatment of for COVID-19, into human trials in next quarter.
As previously released, manufacturing steps are now underway to prepare Brilacidin clinical trial use.
In parallel, the Company has drafted a study protocol toward initiating a planned Phase 2 trial of Brilacidin for COVID-19. This proposed study has two active treatment arms evaluating different IV dosing regimens in hospitalized patients.
COVID-19 vaccine developer Moderna (MRNA +9.8%) jumps, albeit on below-average volume, on the news that it will join the Nasdaq-100 Index on Monday, July 20.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) has agreed to purchase (for storage and deployment in mass casualty or other emergency situations) AVITA Therapeutics’ (RCEL -8.5%) Recell System, a device that treats thermal burns with spray-on skin cells.
BARDA’s vendor-managed inventory plan is valued at $7.6M with an additional $1.6M available to support emergency deployment.
Nano cap NovaBay Pharmaceuticals (NYSEMKT:NBY) announces results from testing by a third-party laboratory confirming that Avenova, its proprietary formulation of pure hypochlorous acid, kills the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
The data will be submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its approved list of disinfectants against the coronavirus.
The product is commercially available via Amazon and Avenova.com.
Shares up 40% premarket.