AstraZeneca vaccine

[Adamski]

Hi LFs, should AZN be a buy because of the oxford vaccine. Been reading that Moderna and AZ are both at similar stages in vacinne development. But Moderna shares have rocketed 65% in 3 months compared to a lacklustre 11% for AZN.

[gryffron]

AstraZeneca is a huge company with fingers in hundreds of pies. Hence the covid vaccine represents only a small part of their business.

Moderna is a very small company. The vaccine is everything (or nothing) to them.

Gryff

[Bouleversee]

Also Azn have stated that their vaccine activity is being done on a not for profit basis. Their p/e ratio makes one wonder whether that has been taken into consideration. Hopefully, it accurately reflects all the recent drug approvals.

[Lootman]

Also Azn have stated that their vaccine activity is being done on a not for profit basis. Their p/e ratio makes one wonder whether that has been taken into consideration. Hopefully, it accurately reflects all the recent drug approvals.

Yes, I think there would be a lot of political pressure put on any drug company that comes up with a cure or vaccine to make the cost moderate. It would also be good PR for such a company to not gouge on prices.

That said, if I could pay a grand tomorrow to buy immunity from Covid and lead a normal life, I would do it in a New York minute.

[mc2fool]

Yes, I think there would be a lot of political pressure put on any drug company that comes up with a cure or vaccine to make the cost moderate. It would also be good PR for such a company to not gouge on prices.

That said, if I could pay a grand tomorrow to buy immunity from Covid and lead a normal life, I would do it in a New York minute.

But of course your grand immunity wouldn't get you a normal life while the country is still under semi-lockdown and other Covid restrictions. The way for any of us to lead a normal life is for everyone to get immunity (or at least the majority needed to reach herd immunity...)

[tjh290633]

Also Azn have stated that their vaccine activity is being done on a not for profit basis. Their p/e ratio makes one wonder whether that has been taken into consideration. Hopefully, it accurately reflects all the recent drug approvals.

There is a big difference between "Not for Profit" and "Not making a loss".

Overhead and cost recovery makes a big difference, compared with endless research into medicines which do not make the grade.

TJH

[Bouleversee]

Agreed and it is good that their costs will be reimbursed by various others. Also good that their research seems to have paid off in a number of cases recently. I should be interested to know whether you think their present price is justified, however. I am debating whether to transfer my dealing account holding to my ISA, where I have another holding, before the ex-dividend date or just take the profit.