Better Coronavirus Stock: BioNTech or GlaxoSmithKline? - Motley Fool

Together with Pfizer (NYSE:PFE), BioNTech is developing an experimental RNA vaccine for COVID-19 called BNT162b1.

In its phase 1 clinical trials, 24 out of 24 participants who received BNT162b1 developed antibodies that neutralize SARS-CoV-2.

Currently, the vaccine is in phase 2/3 clinical trials.

government secured 100 million doses of BioNTech's vaccine, with a potential total order of 500 million doses.

Together with Sanofi (NASDAQ:SNY), GlaxoSmithKline is developing an adjuvant coronavirus vaccine.

In addition, the adjuvant can lower the amount of biological ingredients required by the vaccine, thereby reducing its manufacturing and distribution costs.

Currently, GlaxoSmithKline is capable of manufacturing up to 1 billion doses of its adjuvant by 2021, if the biologic passes clinical trials.

Even if its vaccine programs flunk, investors would still be buying an underlying business that is growing its revenue by 19% year-over-year as of Q22020.

Overall, I would argue BioNTech is hands-down the better coronavirus stock, as its experimental vaccine has already demonstrated preliminary efficacy and safety, is on track to be distributed by the end of the year if all goes well, and has the backing of orders from the U.S.

Management has stated that it does not intend to profit from its adjuvant vaccine, noting that if the treatment is approved, the company will reinvest its vaccine revenue into pandemic preparedness