You’d almost should dwell in a cave to not hear concerning the main advances for the main coronavirus vaccines. Pfizer and BioNTech have already gained authorization within the UK. for his or her vaccine, BNT162b2, which may obtain U.S. emergency use authorization inside weeks. So may Moderna‘s mRNA-1273.
There are different corporations that could possibly be scorching on their heels. AstraZeneca hopes to quickly rating approvals for AZD1222. Johnson & Johnson ought to announce interim late-stage research outcomes for its vaccine candidate JNJ-78436735 in early 2021. Novavax anticipates reporting outcomes from its UK. late-stage research of NVX-CoV2373 early subsequent yr and appears ahead to kicking off a late-stage research within the U.S. inside the subsequent few weeks.
It is fully comprehensible why these corporations are the focus proper now. Nonetheless, there’s additionally a darkish horse within the COVID-vaccine race that you will need to watch — Arcturus Therapeutics (NASDAQ:ARCT).
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Three huge positives
Arcturus is at present evaluating COVID-19 vaccine candidate ARCT-021 in a section half scientific research. Sure, that places the corporate nicely behind all the others talked about earlier that have already got superior their vaccines into late-stage testing. However there are three huge positives for Arcturus’ vaccine that make it stand out.
First, ARCT-021 makes use of a messenger RNA (mRNA) method much like Pfizer‘s and BioNTech‘s BNT162b2 and Moderna‘s mRNA1273. That is vital as a result of these two mRNA vaccines achieved large efficacy ranges of 95% and 94%, respectively. These outcomes bode nicely for the prospects that ARCT-021 may even show to be extremely efficient.
Second, Arcturus’ interim section half research outcomes present {that a} single dose of the vaccine may work nicely in stopping an infection by the novel coronavirus. The entire present main COVID vaccine candidates require two doses, with the notable exception of J&J’s JNJ-78436735. This probably provides Arcturus a major aggressive benefit if ARCT-021 fares nicely in late-stage testing.
Third, Arcturus expects to have a lyophilized (freeze-dried) model of ARCT-021 prepared earlier than it strikes into late-stage research. A freeze-dried powder type of the vaccine will not have the ultracold storage necessities that Pfizer‘s and BioNTech‘s BNT162b2 at present has.
The underside line is that ARCT-021 may probably tackle all the points related to the main COVID-19 vaccines. A single-dose mRNA vaccine that is extremely efficient and that may be saved at normal fridge temperatures could possibly be an enormous winner.
The remainder of the pipeline
Because the infomercials say, “However wait! There’s extra!” Arcturus additionally has a number of pipeline candidates based mostly on its mRNA expertise. If ARCT-021 proves to be secure and efficient, it may translate to stable prospects for these different applications.
Arcturus is at present evaluating mRNA remedy ARCT-810 in a section 1 research focusing on ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency, a genetic dysfunction the place ammonia accumulates within the blood and might turn into poisonous. It hopes to advance ARCT-810 into section 2 testing within the first quarter of 2021.
The corporate’s pipeline contains three different preclinical applications. Two are experimental mRNA therapies focusing on heart problems and cystic fibrosis. Maybe probably the most intriguing of the three for traders, although, is flu vaccine candidate LUNAR-FLU. Arcturus anticipates submitting for approval subsequent yr to advance the candidate into scientific testing.
Novavax has introduced plans to discover the potential for creating a combo flu/COVID-19 vaccine for post-pandemic use. LUNAR-FLU probably provides Arcturus a possibility to observe the identical path if ARCT-021 is profitable.
Maintain your eyes on Arcturus
It is too early to know if ARCT-021 will ship the leads to late-stage testing that Arcturus hopes it would. And it is approach too early to make predictions for the remainder of the corporate’s pipeline.
Nonetheless, two nations to date have seen sufficient promise for ARCT-021 to signal provide offers with Arcturus. Israel inked an settlement with the corporate worth as much as $275 million. Singapore dedicated to buying as much as $175 million of Arcturus’ COVID-19 vaccine, if all goes nicely in late-stage testing.
The biotech stock has skyrocketed greater than 930% to date this yr. Even with this spectacular acquire, Arcturus’ market cap remains to be beneath $three billion. Maintain your eyes on Arcturus: This darkish horse may emerge as a giant winner within the coronavirus vaccine race.
