Group 1: COVID-19 Vaccines Update - The FDA has approved updated mRNA-based vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna to address new COVID-19 strains, particularly targeting the KP.2 strain [2][3] - The KP.2 strain was dominant in May but now accounts for approximately 3% of U.S. cases, while KP.3 and its related strain KP.3.1.1 account for nearly 17% and almost 37% of cases, respectively [3] - The updated vaccines are expected to produce stronger immune responses against circulating variants compared to last year's vaccines [2] Group 2: Eligibility and Availability - The CDC recommends that everyone aged 6 months and older receive one dose of the new COVID-19 vaccine, with a suggested waiting period of two to three months since the last vaccination or infection [4] - Vaccination appointments are available at pharmacies, hospitals, and clinics, with Walgreens and CVS already scheduling appointments for early September [5][6] Group 3: Cost and Access - Most private insurance plans, as well as Medicare and Medicaid, cover the cost of COVID-19 vaccinations, while a federally-funded program provides free shots for children [8] - The CDC has allocated $62 million for state and local immunization programs to cover costs for uninsured and underinsured adults [8] Group 4: Novavax Vaccine - Novavax has filed for authorization of a new protein-based vaccine targeting the JN.1 strain, which is expected to provide protection against its descendants [9]

Its long-term growth plan just hit a small bump in the road.With Pfizer (PFE 0.42%) stock badly underperforming the market over the past three years, falling by 32% while the market rose by close to the same amount, the last thing shareholders want to hear is news of another setback. Alas, the latest stumble was a somewhat unexpected one, and now the company will probably not realize revenue from one of its programs.But is the stock still worth buying in hopes of a recovery over the long term? To answer tha ...

The updated COVID-19 vaccine is tailored to the KP.2 strain of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron JN.1 lineage and is recommended for individuals 6 months of age and olderThe KP.2 adaptation is based on FDA guidance, which stated that KP.2 is the preferred strain for COVID-19 vaccines for the US 2024-2025 fall and winter season, if feasibleShipping will begin immediately to ensure robust supply and rapid access of this season’s vaccine in pharmacies, hospitals, and clinics across the country NEW YORK and MAINZ, GERMANY ...

The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday approved updated Covid vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, putting the new shots on track to reach most Americans in the coming days amid a summer surge of the virus. The jabs target a strain called KP.2, a descendant of the highly contagious omicron subvariant JN.1 that began circulating widely in the U.S. earlier this year. KP.2 was the dominant Covid strain in May, but now only accounts for roughly 3% of all U.S. cases as of Saturday, according to the latest Cen ...

Last week, Pfizer (PFE) and partner BioNTech (BNTX) announced that a phase III study evaluating an mRNA-based combination vaccine candidate against influenza and COVID-19 missed one of its two primary immunogenicity objectives.The study’s two primary immunogenicity objectives were to demonstrate that the antibody responses elicited by the combination vaccine against the SARS-CoV-2 strain and influenza A and B strain were non-inferior to standard of care (“SOC”).The combination vaccine demonstrated comparabl ...

Pfizer (PFE) and partner BioNTech (BNTX) announced that a phase III study evaluating an mRNA-based combination vaccine candidate against influenza and COVID-19 missed one of its two primary immunogenicity objectives. The vaccine combines Pfizer’s investigational mRNA-based influenza vaccine candidate with it and BioNTech’s popular marketed COVID-19 vaccine called Comirnaty. The study was conducted in more than 8000 healthy individuals aged 18-64.The study’s two primary immunogenicity objectives were to demo ...

A clinical-trial failure for Pfizer and BioNTech means Moderna is leading the race to develop a combo shot for the flu and COVID-19.Pfizer (PFE -1.43%) and BioNTech (BNTX -2.36%) recently fell behind in their race with Moderna (MRNA 0.25%) to develop new combination shots that could be worth billions in annual sales. Top-line results from an experimental vaccination to protect against influenza and COVID-19 weren't a complete disaster, but there isn't much room for error when it comes to vaccine development ...

Core Insights - Pfizer's stock has declined by 46% since early 2022, primarily due to a significant drop in revenue and earnings as the pandemic-related results faded [1] - Recent second-quarter results indicate a potential recovery for Pfizer, with sales reaching $13.3 billion, marking a 2% year-over-year increase [2] Revenue Performance - In 2022, Pfizer achieved $100 billion in sales, a milestone in the biopharmaceutical industry, largely driven by its COVID-19 products [2] - Excluding the COVID-19 portfolio, Pfizer's revenue would have increased by 14% in the second quarter of 2024, indicating strong underlying performance [3] Guidance and Projections - Pfizer raised its full-year revenue guidance from a range of $58.5 billion to $61.5 billion to a new range of $59.5 billion to $62.5 billion, reflecting a $1 billion increase [4] - The adjusted earnings-per-share guidance was also upgraded from $2.15-$2.35 to $2.45-$2.65 [4] Product Development and Market Position - Pfizer has received seven new approvals in the past year, with ongoing development of new products, including a GLP-1 candidate for weight loss [5] - The acquisition of Seagen for $43 billion is expected to enhance Pfizer's oncology portfolio, providing future growth catalysts [5] Valuation and Dividend Appeal - Pfizer's forward price-to-earnings ratio stands at 10.8, significantly lower than the healthcare industry average of 18.3, suggesting the stock is undervalued [6] - The company offers a dividend yield of 5.88%, having increased its payouts by nearly 17% over the past five years, appealing to value and dividend investors [6]

Investors were cautiously pessimistic about the latest news coming out of the company's lab.In the thick of the coronavirus pandemic several years ago, any positive news from a developer of COVID-19 vaccines or drugs would have been met with a surge of buying in its stock. We're not in 2021 anymore, though, and an encouraging development from Pfizer (PFE -1.43%) on a combination COVID/influenza jab was met with a collective shrug by the market. In fact, investors traded out of the stock to the point that it ...

Key TakeawaysThe experimental COVID-19/flu vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech missed one of two key endpoints in a Phase 3 study.The companies reported that while the shot worked against COVID-19 and influenza A, it fell short versus influenza B.Pfizer and BioNTech said they are evaluating adjustments to the vaccine. Shares of Pfizer (PFE) and American depositary receipts (ADRs) of BioNTech (BNTX) dropped in intraday trading Friday following disappointing results from a late-stage study of the drugmakers' co ...