J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference 2021 Recap: Updates on COVID-19 Vaccines and Treatments

Strategic Insights -

Moderna's swift rise through the ranks of vaccine developers was a major highlight of the first day of the virtual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, with the company's CEO, Stéphane Bancel, revealing that the global vaccine rollout could propel Moderna into the ranks of the top vaccine producers by revenue worldwide. Meanwhile, Regeneron's executives emphasized the need to increase access to antibody therapies, while Johnson & Johnson's CEO, Alex Gorsky, announced that the company is in the "final stages" of analyzing its COVID-19 vaccine efficacy data.

Key Takeaways:

  • Moderna has secured purchase orders for over $11 billion and is negotiating more deals, propelling the company into the ranks of top vaccine producers by revenue worldwide.
  • Regeneron's R&D chief, George Yancopoulos, emphasized the need to increase access to antibody therapies, citing the challenges of infusions and the importance of working closely with the government to overcome these hurdles.
  • Johnson & Johnson's CEO, Alex Gorsky, announced that the company is in the "final stages" of analyzing its COVID-19 vaccine efficacy data, with plans to produce hundreds of millions of vaccine doses in the first half of 2021 and nearly a billion doses by the end of the year.
  • A "second-wave" of vaccines will still be needed to immunize the world, with expert estimates suggesting a total vaccine demand of 16 billion doses.
  • Valneva's CEO, Thomas Lingelbach, is "absolutely sure" that there will be demand for follow-up vaccines, given the likelihood of COVID-19 becoming endemic.
  • Eli Lilly's weekly dual GIP and GLP-1 type 2 diabetes drug, tirzepatide, has shown positive topline results, with Novo Nordisk CEO, Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen, suggesting that both companies can succeed in the competitive GLP-1 class.
  • Alexion's 2020 sales came in at $5.93 billion, with the company planning to quadruple the U.S. neurology patients treated with its C5 drugs, Soliris and Ultomiris, to reach its 2025 sales target of $9-10 billion.
  • Merck & Co. CEO, Ken Frazier, emphasized the company's revenue growth prospects between 2021 and 2024, citing co-formulations, combinations, and other Keytruda administration routes that could extend the megablockbuster's lifespan.

Statistics:

  • Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine rollout could propel the company into the ranks of the top vaccine producers by revenue worldwide.
  • $11 billion: the value of purchase orders secured by Moderna for its COVID-19 vaccine.
  • 16 billion: the estimated total vaccine demand worldwide.
  • 50-60%: the current uptake of Gilead Sciences' COVID-19 antiviral, Veklury, among hospitalized patients in the U.S.
  • $2.8-2.83 billion: the expected 2020 sales of Veklury.
  • $24.3-24.35 billion: the total 2020 sales of Gilead Sciences.
  • $5.93 billion: the 2020 sales of Alexion.
  • $9-10 billion: the 2025 sales target of Alexion.
  • 120: the number of transactions carried out by Merck & Co. in 2020.
  • 2024: the projected revenue growth period for Merck & Co.
  • 16 million: the expected number of doses of Novo Nordisk's GLP-1 pill, Rybelsus, sold in 2020.

Sources:

  • "Moderna could join ranks of top vaccine companies by revenue this year, CEO says as COVID-19 vaccine" (https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/moderna-could-join-ranks-top-vaccine-companies-by-revenue-year-ceo-says-as-covid-19-vaccine)
  • "JPM Regeneron execs say it's a problem: how few COVID-19 patients are getting antibody therapies" (https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/jpm-regeneron-execs-say-its-a-problem-how-few-covid-19-patients-are-getting-antibody)
  • "JPM: J&J hopes to share Phase 3 coronavirus vaccine data 'very soon,' CEO says" (https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/jpm-j-j-hopes-to-share-phase-3-coronavirus-vaccine-data-very-soon-ceo-says)
  • "As first COVID-19 vaccines roll out, a second wave of candidates wait in the wings" (https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/as-first-covid-19-vaccines-roll-out-a-second-wave-candidates-waiting-wings)
  • "JPM: Alexion gives updated look at what AstraZeneca's paying $39b for" (https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/jpm-alexion-gives-updated-look-what-astrazeneca-s-paying-39b-for)
  • "JPM: Merck not complacent, but we're not desperate for deals, CEO says" (https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/jpm-merck-not-complacent-but-we-re-not-desperate-for-deals-ceo-says)
  • "JPM: Gilead's Veklury now used half of hospitalized U.S. COVID patients, delivers big revenue bump" (https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/jpm-gilead-s-veklury-now-used-half-hospitalized-u-s-covid-patients-delivers-big-revenue-bump)