The market is exuberant today on Pfizer's and Moderna's 90% or more effective C19 vaccine pronouncements with no data. Perhaps so, but side effects and questions on the lasting effect of protection from the two shot frozen vaccines as well as the practicality of having to transport, store and administer them are concerning. Both Pfizer and Moderna execs have been selling their shares after the no data pump n dump jobs.
At this point, will wait before taking any pump n dump frozen vaccine from Pfizer or Moderna. Both tweak my BS meter along with a potentially biased FDA toward Big Pharma.
I suspect that there may be better vaccines and treatments in the wings as touched on below. These are small biotech's and a speculation with a high risk and potentially high reward. These stay on my "some" not "too much" list.
Stock Talk
Inovio (INO) - the FDA lifted the hold on the Phase 2 part of the C19 vaccine called INO 4800. This is a DNA vaccine and unlike mRNA Pfe and moderna vaccines, Inovio's vaccine can be stored at room temperature for a year and refrigerated for up to 5 years. Further, there are Inovio pipeline treatments in clinical trials for HPV and gbm brain cancer. Announcements are not far off on Inovio's pipeline. I am staying long on some INO to see what I believe is potentially a disruptive biotech. Such disruptive treatments like their DNA technology will find institutional hurdles and short sellers being tossed at them. But often as they emerge, big Pharma typically buys them out or takes them over at a premium over market. I suspect that part of the shorting going on is by big Pharma agents working to keep the sp lower so the stock does not get too high before a takeover attempt. some may say Oh they can't because of a poison pill. However, once a big Pharma accumulates 25% of a company's stock intentions can become more clear because it has to be declared by SEC practice.
INO is starting to surge on today's news of the FDA lift of INO4800 hold. I believe today's pop is peanuts compared to the future value and I am holding .
Sorrento (SRNE) - has FDA cleared trials for giving C19 patients an antibody dose of CoviGuard (STI1499) at Temple hospital in Philadelphia. Trials on additional refinements (eg, STI 2020) are starting as well. Since I posted that, Sorrento reported yet another C19 treatment, Covi-Drops nasal drops to administer protection against C19 in infected people. If SRNE's STI 2099 works, this would be a boon to rendering C19 ineffective in progressing and could be an at home treatment that Doctors can prescribe.
Vaxart (VXRT) - This is a speculative company that is working to bring an oral tablet C19 vaccine to the market. It is early but VXRT is reporting positive data in golden Syrian hamsters. It seems these hamsters are the gold standard for animal studies prior to gaining FDA clearence for human clinical trials.
https://www.fool.com/investing/2020/11/12/vaxart-reports-more-positive-data-from-animal-test/
It goes without saying that an oral vaccine, if proven safe and effective will have great advantages, especially in countries where frozen vaccines are not practical
In Sorrento's case , the shorts have attacked the sp because the company is pursing a broad line of products to address C19 and bigger things such as lung cancer (STI5656), but the regulatory process takes time.
While these three are working through regulatory process, the shorts have pounced upon the stocks. This keeps these three stocks in the speculative category. However, I suspect there is a fair chance things may turn around if they deliver.
In closing, another stock that looks to be a fair investment to sustain sp on metals is Yamana Gold (AUY) on Gold and silver. I hold some shares of AUY and may buy more on dips. Yamana is projecting higher production and is increasing the dividend. Those are two fundamentals that appeal to me.
ALL in my humble opinion, scroll down and read more..This site does NOT make Buy / Sell recommendations.
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