GlaxoSmithKline’s Entry Into the COVID-19 Vaccine Race

It’s all-hands-on-deck for the biotech sector as the world battles the deadly coronavirus disease COVID-19.

As the US coronavirus-related deaths mount to over 80,000 and reported cases hitting over 1.3 million, the need to find a cure and vaccines increases in urgency every passing minute.

Joining the biotech companies throwing their hats into the ring is GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), which recently announced its decision to work hand in hand with Vir Biotechnology (VIR) in the search for a coronavirus cure.

On top of the collaboration efforts, the partnership will also involve GSK investing $250 million in Vir. According to these terms, each Vir share will be worth $37.73.

The collaboration announcement also pushed Vir shares to rise by as much as 34% and trading more than doubled. Meanwhile, (GSK) went up by roughly 2%.

The partnership will explore several platforms to come up with a treatment for COVID-19.

So far, the most promising candidates involve two antibodies presently dubbed as VIR-7831 and VIR-7832. Both were developed by Vir as treatments for SARS, which is also caused by a coronavirus.

Actually, these antibodies were developed using samples from a patient who recovered from SARS. However, these could also be produced artificially.

(GSK) and Vir estimate that Phase 2 clinical trials will commence in three to five months.

Apart from these antibody treatments, the two companies are also looking into utilizing CRISPR screening technology to figure out which proteins are used by the coronavirus to infect the healthy cells.

Once they identify these, (GSK) and Vir could come up with drugs that block viral infection. That is, they can use the information to create a vaccine to be used not only for COVID-19 but also for other types of coronaviruses.

According to (GSK), the Vir proteins had been identified as “highly potent” when targeted at the coronavirus in the laboratory.

If all goes well, a coronavirus vaccine could be on its way in 12 to 18 months.

Aside from (GSK), Vir also has an ongoing collaboration with another bigwig biotech, Biogen (BIIB).

This isn’t the first venture of (GSK) in looking for a COVID-19 cure though.

The British biotech giant is also working with China’s Xiamen Innovex on another potential coronavirus vaccine.

In addition, (GSK) is looking into forming a joint laboratory with AstraZeneca (AZN) to assist the UK government in stretching and expanding its supplies for COVID-19 diagnostic tests.

Although diagnostics are not part of their primary efforts, the goal is for the two big biotechs to determine the best ways to help in detecting the spread of COVID-19.

While these efforts to help find a solution to the pandemic are at the forefront of the biotech world today, GSK has a lot more to offer.

(GSK) manufactures products that people need to take on a regular basis.

The need is so great that the company actually allocates 80% of its research efforts focused on drug development for various issues like oncology, immuno-inflammation, and HIV. These treatments are vital to the daily existence of so many patients across the globe.

Meanwhile, (GSK) also aims to streamline its business and focus on the research and development of products and services. Hence, it decided to split its businesses into two.

One will be geared towards pharmaceutical efforts. The second will be focused on consumer health.

This is an excellent move in ensuring that (GSK) maximizes its potential to dominate its chosen markets.

Throughout the years, (GSK) has demonstrated its capacity to grow while delivering a strong bottom line. From 2015 until 2019, the biotech giant’s sales increased by over 40% with its operating margin rising as well.

While it’s undeniable that this global biotech stock has gotten itself caught up in the COVID-19 whirlwind that managed to hurt virtually every sector, its downside alternative makes absolutely no sense.

No one has the ability to predict and control when they get sick or what type of illness they get afflicted with, which makes the biotech sector and specifically drug developers particularly safe bet whatever the financial climate is.

So, investors looking for a stable stock can now afford to buy (GSK) shares at approximately 10 times worth of next year’s per-share profit potential. As if that’s not enough, the company also offers a mouthwatering 7.5% dividend yield.

Keep in mind that a wise way to insulate your portfolio amid the fears of a market crash is through investing in stable businesses that offer products and services needed on a daily basis.

If the companies provide essential items in both good and bad times, it’s a good sign the stocks will be able to survive any market crash.

(GSK), which is currently at an 11-year low due to the pandemic and economic crisis, is worth considering.