Pfizer executives expressed measured optimism Tuesday over the prospect of providing a coronavirus vaccine in 2020 even as they signaled key data on the vaccine would not be released before the US election. Pfizer Chief Executive Albert Bourla said the drug giant could supply some 40 million doses in the United States in 2020 if clinical testing proceeds as expected and regulators approve a vaccine. Asked if he was “bullish” the vaccine would work, Bourla said: “I’m cautiously optimistic that the vaccine will work.”– Dip in doctor visits –Pfizer reported a 71 percent drop in profit to $2.2 billion in the latest quarter. This effect was partially offset by increased demand for the Prevnar-13 vaccine for pneumonia “resulting from greater vaccine awareness for respiratory illnesses,” the company said. Merck said one coronavirus vaccine candidate had entered phase 1 development and a second candidate would reach that stage shortly.

Source: Punch October 27, 2020 22:18 UTC