FiercePharmaPoliticsFDA could approve ‘at least one’ COVID-19 vaccine before election: analyst – FiercePharma

Welcome to theFiercePharmapolitical roundup, where each Monday well highlight developments in Washington, D.C., and elsewherethat could affect drug pricing and how drugmakers operate.

About sixmonths into the pandemic and about 130 days until the U.S. presidential election, COVID-19 vaccines are moving ahead at record speeds. Now, a group of analysts predicts at least one vaccine will be approved before November 3.

Jefferies healthcare strategist Jared HolztoldMarketWatch that perhaps multiple vaccines could get FDA authorizationsearly in the fourth quarter and quell fears of a second wave of COVID-19.

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The teamcited severalreasons why an approval, or emergency use authorization, may come before the November election. For one, Trump could push the FDA behind the scenes toissue an approval or emergency authorization. Moderna and AstraZeneca, two vaccine front-runners, have already told the analysts an approval could happen on that timeline, according to the report.

RELATED:FDA official leaves 'Warp Speed' to preserve independent regulatory power: report

Meanwhile, a vaccine approval mightliftthe entire industry,rather thanjust one or two companies,Holz told the publication.Ifthe industrydelivers a successful shot,itdbe seen as saving the day amidthe pandemic, and that would lift sentiment around all of biopharma. With that lift, thered be less political pressure to take on drug pricing.

The analysts at Jefferies arent the only market watcherswho believe vaccines could be approved before the election.In a New York Timesop-edearlier this month, University of Pennsylvania professorsEzekiel Emanuel and Paul Offitwarned about a possible October surprise in the form of a COVID-19 vaccine approval on political grounds.

FDA commissioner Stephen Hahn, though, said his agency wont be pressured to approve a shot for politicalreasons. HetoldThe Guardian that science and datanot politicshas and will always guide our decision-making, including our work related to vaccines.

Several vaccines, including thosefrom Moderna and AstraZeneca, are slated forlate-stagetests this summer, The Wall Street Journal has reported. Worldwide, about 140 COVID-19 vaccines are in development, and 13 are in human testing, according to the World Health Organization.

RELATED:Moderna, AstraZeneca and J&J coronavirus shots rev up for NIH tests beginning in July: WSJ

Meanwhile,on the subject of drugpricing regulations, several companiesscored a winlast weekagainst the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) when aU.S. appeals court found that the bodydoesnt have the authority to compeldrugmakersto include prices in TV ads.

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FiercePharmaPoliticsFDA could approve 'at least one' COVID-19 vaccine before election: analyst - FiercePharma