AstraZeneca, BioNTech, GSK, Sanofi, Moderna, Novavax, Pfizer share prices: Why are vaccine stocks down?

Shares of global vaccine makers were muted on Tuesday as investors and analysts took a "wait and watch" approach after U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired all members of an expert vaccine panel late on Monday. Shares of AstraZeneca and BioNTech were marginally up, while those of GSK and Sanofi declined 1 per cent and 0.2 per cent, respectively. U.S. vaccine maker Moderna fell slightly in premarket trading, while Novavax and Pfizer traded marginally higher, as per a report.

Analysts said that while the unprecedented dismissals of all members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) represented a risk for vaccine manufacturers, investors would wait to see any impact on the companies, Reuters reported.

Since he was appointed as U.S. health secretary, Kennedy, a vaccine skeptic, has made several changes to reshape the regulation of vaccines, food and medicine. However, firing members of the ACIP remains his most far-reaching move yet.


Some analysts expressed concerns that the new committee members, who have not been named, might be more sympathetic to Kennedy's views on vaccines, an idea shared by scientific experts and doctors.

While the makeup of a reconstituted ACIP is to be determined, "new members will likely be sympathetic to at least some of RFK's beliefs regarding alleged dangers of vaccines", Leerink analyst Daina Graybosch said in a note.

Graybosch said that the move could negatively impact approved vaccine recommendations and increase the burden of evidence and costs for future vaccine development.

Kennedy's decision came less than three weeks before the next panel meeting set for June 25 to June 27 and is slated to discuss recommendations for who should receive vaccines for diseases like respiratory syncytial virus.

It is unclear when Kennedy will announce the new members, who the agency said are under consideration, or whether the agenda will follow the meeting description posted on the Federal Register on Monday.

FAQs

Q1. What are vaccine stocks?
A1. Shares of AstraZeneca and BioNTech were marginally up, while those of GSK and Sanofi declined 1 per cent and 0.2 per cent, respectively. U.S. vaccine maker Moderna fell slightly in premarket trading, while Novavax and Pfizer traded marginally higher, as per a report.

Q2. Who is US Health Secretary?
A2. US Health Secretary is Robert F. Kennedy Jr.