Moderna Inc (LON:0A45) is an American pharmaceutical and biotechnology giant. It aspires to use messenger RNA to create a line of medicines that could improve lives of patients. The mRNA medicines are instructions that are used to direct cells in the body to create proteins as preventive measure or to fight a disease. The company was founded in 2010 and the company is a pioneer in the range of medicines made of messenger RNA, or mRNA.

1. 4 Aspects That Can Decide
The Future Of Vaccines

2. Summary
• The future of vaccines will depend on several factors such
as efficacy of next-generation vaccines, logistical, and
distribution issues, fast-tracking approvals and latest
innovations and technology.
• Efficacy of second-generation vaccines targeting
mutations will indicate the growth potential of drug
companies.

3. • As new strains emerge and vaccination
drives gain momentum and more vaccine
candidates await approvals, the future of
vaccines will depend on key factors such as
efficacy of new variant focused booster
shots, addressing logistical bottlenecks,
speed of regulatory approvals and new
technology.
• Sharon Peacock, Director of UK’s
coronavirus sequencing group Covid-19
Genomics UK, said that regular booster
shots will be required to combat covid-19
variants. However, due to the development
in vaccine innovation, the booster doses
could be developed at the same pace and
made available for mass vaccination.

4. • Next-generation vaccines
• Vaccine boosters have the dual function of improving the immunity
response to the original virus strain and in targeting emerging
mutations of the covid-19 virus.
• US-based healthcare giant Moderna (NASDAQ: MRNA) announced on 10
March it had started human trials in phase 2 clinical study by giving
booster shots targeting the new South African variant. The company’s
(NASDAQ: MRNA) stock prices closed at US$136.99, down by 2.48 per
cent on Friday, while the broader index Nasdaq composite was down by
0.59 per cent at 13,319.86 for the same period.
• Moreover, the Biontech/Pfizer vaccine has also been found to be effective
against the South African strain. Biontech’s shares (NASDAQ: BNTX)
closed at USD 103.28, up by 0.66 per cent on Friday, while Pfizer’s
(NYSE: PFE) ended at 34.94 USD, up by 0.66 per cent.
• Analysts expect that the efficacy of the booster shots tackling the new
variant will determine the upside potential of vaccine development
companies.

5. • Logistical concerns
• Vaccine availability has been a major bottleneck in the EU. British-
Swedish company AstraZeneca Plc (LON:AZN) faced bans from
Italy earlier this month due to its ongoing vaccine supply
challenges in the EU.
• The pharma company’s shares were trading at GBX 6,962.00, up by
0.16 per cent on 15 March at 10:25 AM GMT+1, while the FTSE 100
stood at 6,785.96, up by 0.36 per cent for the same period.
• Also read: EU faces AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine shortage
amid manufacturing concerns
• An EU-based incubator for second generation vaccines, HERA
incubator, is set to be launched on 17 March. The programme will
include labs, researchers and other stakeholders to tackle new
variants. The move comes as the EU is facing slow vaccine roll-puts
due to delayed deliveries.
• Mass vaccination sites is another distribution strategy that can
help speed up roll outs, as existing healthcare centres are not
sufficient for rapid inoculation.

6. Fast-tracking approvals
• Last week, the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory
Agency announced its plans to fast track approvals for the vaccines
targeting newer strains, similar to the influenza vaccines. The move
comes as the economy is set to open up after lockdown restrictions
ease in the UK.
• US-based drug-maker Novovax (NASDAQ: NVAX) reported an
efficacy of 96.4 per cent against the original strain, 86.3 percent
efficacy against the UK variant and a 55.4 per cent against the
South African variant in a UK trial. Shares of the company closed
at US$202.77, up by 8.07 per cent following the announcement. The
company plans to gain regulatory approvals from US and UK
regulators.
• While US-based multinational company Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:
JNJ) received approvals for mass roll outs in February. The
company’s (NYSE: JNJ) shares closed at US$159.60, up by 0.30 per
cent on Friday.

7. • Technology and innovation
• Vaccine technology and innovation is expected to streamline
delivery methods and simplify cold storage problems .
According to the Soumya Swaminathan, leading scientist at
WHO, new types of vaccines will not require needles and
don’t need a cold storage facility for use by later this year
or in 2022. Swaminathan added that up to six to eight such new
vaccines are set to undergo review by end of 2021.

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