It’s hard to decipher the good news from the bad news nowadays.
Mainly because there hasn’t been much optimism out there, especially when it comes to the coronavirus. As of May 17, 2020, the CDC reported 1,467,065 total cases and 88,709 total deaths in the U.S. The headlines about the virus and everything surrounding it have been a lot to take in.
It’s all I hear about, and I’m sure it’s all you hear about as well. And I guess I’m probably a part of that “problem.” It’s hard to ignore, and it’s not a topic that should be ignored. Still, it’s hard hearing news about the virus every day. However, waking up this morning, there was some optimistic news. Of course, we should take it with a grain of salt.
On Monday, Moderna (NASDAQ: MRNA) announced the findings of its coronavirus vaccine trial. Starting in March, the company tested eight people who received two doses of its vaccine, and it appears that the vaccine is safe and can stimulate an immune response against the virus.
Moderna’s healthy volunteers were able to make antibodies that were then tested in human cells in Moderna’s lab and were shown to be able to stop the virus from replicating. This result is a requirement for an effective vaccine. The results that were shown in the lab indicated similar levels of the antibodies found in patients who recovered after contracting the virus in their community.
The biotech company received approval from the Food and Drug Administration earlier this month to move ahead with its accelerated timetable. Its second phase of testing will begin very soon, and it’ll include 600 people. Its third phase is expected to begin in July and will involve thousands of healthy people. With that type of accelerated timetable and if trials go as planned, a vaccine could become available for widespread use by the end of this year or early 2021.
As I’m sure you’re aware, there is no treatment or vaccine for COVID-19. That’s why any success or step in the right direction towards a treatment or vaccine is welcomed. Moderna isn’t the only company that is racing to find a solution to this very big problem. Dozens of companies in Europe and Asia are quickly working on vaccines.
Sorrento Therapeutics (NASDAQ: SRNE), another biotech from the U.S., announced that it has made a breakthrough in the fight against COVID-19. Sorrento’s CEO, Dr. Henry Ji, said in an interview:
We want to emphasize there is a cure. There is a solution that works 100 percent. If we have the neutralizing antibody in your body, you don’t need the social distancing. You can open up a society without fear.
The biotech company has been developing its antibody, STI-1499, to do just that. No one is truly safe from this virus until there is a vaccine. Medical professionals believe that a large percentage of people who contract the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 are asymptomatic, making them silent carriers of the virus which means they could infect others even though the virus doesn’t affect them. With a vaccine, millions of people won’t have to live in fear, wear masks, or practice social distancing. They won’t have to be worried about who might be carrying the virus.
Join Wealth Daily today for FREE. We’ll keep you on top of all the hottest investment ideas before they
hit Wall Street. Become a member today, and get our latest free report: “Why You Need to Fire Your Money
Manager.”The Best Free Investment You’ll Ever Make
It contains full details on why money managers are overpaid and provides you with
tools for growing your wealth. On your own terms. No fees, no comission.
Sorrento Therapeutics was up by 42.6% in pre-market trading on Monday morning. That comes after a 158% gain on Friday, May 15. This is the type of optimism that both individuals and investors need. And the biotech companies that can provide it have been reaping the benefits.
This optimism for biotech companies doesn’t just stop at finding a vaccine for COVID-19. While that would be wonderful and the company that provides that vaccine will win big, you could say the entire biotech industry has been “winning” during this difficult time. You come here to read articles about the market, find out what’s going on, and where to look for the winners. That’s why if you aren’t paying attention to the biotech industry now, you should start.
Like I mentioned earlier, it’s not just about those companies who are working on vaccines for COVID-19. A cancer drug developer, ADC Therapeutics (NYSE: ADCT), went public this past Friday, May 15. It priced its IPO at $19 per share. There are not a lot of companies going public right now besides companies in the biotech industry. Just take a look at ADC’s IPO — it was able to make $233 million from its market debut, going beyond its original goal by more than $80 million. As of close on Monday, May 18, shares closed the market at $30 per share — that’s about a 58% increase from its IPO price.
Things are looking good for the biotech industry. And the more you know about what’s going on in this industry, the more you’ll benefit in the long run. If you’re interested in more information about this industry and the type of companies that are set to make some gains, then you should watch this video.
This video will go into more detail about other biotech companies that are on the verge of something huge and when you can reap the rewards from their success. This opportunity could give you a shot at six triple-digit winners every single month.
Click here to watch the video. What do you have to lose?
Until next time, Monica Savaglia Monica Savaglia is Wealth Daily’s IPO specialist. With passion and knowledge, she wants to open up the world of IPOs and their long-term potential to everyday investors. She does this through her newsletter IPO Authority, a one-stop resource for everything IPO. She also contributes regularly to the Wealth Daily e-letter. To learn more about Monica, click here.
