While the dizzying number of human trials for drug and treatment development make it difficult to accurately handicap the odds of success to commercialization, veteran biotech investors realize most attempts at drug development will fall short. Nevertheless, identifying the publicly-traded companies with the most promising prospects for converting research and development initiatives into commercial remedies could pay off handsomely for shareholders. And in late April, U.S. government researchers reported hospitalized Covid-19 patients had a speedier recovery taking remdesivir intravenously than a placebo group. J&J and the U.S. government are preparing to invest more than $1 billion to fund the vaccine research, development, and clinical testing. The tissue healing aspect of the compound is particularly important, given some of the long-term effects of Covid-19 in patients.

Source: Forbes May 21, 2020 12:00 UTC