Bloomberg
J&J signals optimism with Covid vaccine used in Limbo in USA
(Bloomberg) – Johnson & Johnson has indicated that uncertainty over its Covid-19 vaccine could ease in the coming days as regulators investigate whether the shot could cause rare blood clots and inspect a factory that is key for the drugmaker to meet its production targets. to reach. interrupted the use of the vaccine last week after six women who received it developed severe but rare blood clots in the brain. A panel of medical experts examining the data on the blood clots could vote on Friday on whether the hold should end. According to Jason McDonald, a spokesman for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, no additional effects of the blood clots have been confirmed. “In the next few days, we will have a very solid path forward, and we will ‘we will do everything in our power to make sure that it is a positive outcome,'” said J&J CFO Joseph Wolk. Shares of J&J rose 2.6% in New York at 11:22 a.m., a sign that investors expect the vaccine to be used again soon in the U.S. and elsewhere, according to the European Medicines Agency’s safety committee. Tuesday warned that there is a link between the rare blood clots and the vaccine, but the potential benefits outweigh any risks.The ruling paves the way for European Union countries to decide whether to access the shot for any patient groups The committee recommended that a warning be added to the product information of the shot, with about 7.7 million people in the U.S. receiving the J&J shot on April 15. J&J said Tuesday that in the first quarter $ 100 million in sales for the company brought in. While the J&J shot was previously criticized for the U.S. vaccination program, Biden’s government said it expects other vaccinations currently available to compensate for any shortfall caused by the break. In Europe, where a broader explosion of vaccines has slowed down, access to the J&J shot could help cover more residents and halt the spread of viral variants that have contributed to the higher infection rates. Forecast on HoldNew Brunswick, J&J-based J&J, did not give a year-round forecast for vaccine sales due to the uncertainty surrounding its use, Cloud said in an interview on Tuesday. J&J is offering the shot on a non-profit basis, at no more than $ 10 per dose, for the duration of the pandemic. “We do not want to be presumptuous and perhaps even insult regulators, we want the process to play out and ensure that we respect it,” said Wolk. “Since it is a non-profit construction, it will not have a material impact on earnings.” This week, U.S. regulators are likely to conduct an inspection at a facility of Emergent BioSolutions Inc. responsible for producing the underlying agent that shot into it, said J&J vice chairman of the executive committee, Joaquin Duato, during a call with investors. On April 16, Emergent was ordered by U.S. regulators to halt their work at the Baltimore plant. About 15 million doses of an important ingredient in the J&J survey had to be thrown away after a production mix. Managers of J&J said on Tuesday that it was too early to determine how the obstacle would affect the timing of the delivery of 100 million doses to the US. year from $ 9.42 to $ 9.57, reducing the lead from $ 9.40 to $ 9.60 given in January. According to data compiled by Bloomberg, Wall Street analysts expect an average of $ 9.50 per share. Turnover in the first quarter was $ 22.32 billion, surpassing the average analysis of $ 21.98 billion. The pharmaceutical unit still accounts for more than half of its sales, as revenue in the division rose 10% to $ 12.2 billion in the first quarter. Medical device sales rose 11% to $ 6.58 billion. Cloud said he expects device trends to improve. In the Asia-Pacific region, medical devices recovered 70% this quarter, and he said other regions would follow suit. “Operations seem to be a bit soft in terms of the market,” he said, “but consumer sales fell 2.3 percent year-on-year to $ 3.54 billion. In the health of consumers, J & J’s sales declined in products not available over the counter, driven by comparisons with last year’s pantry and a weaker cough, cold and flu season. J&J reported adjusted earnings per share of $ 2.59 in the first quarter, compared to $ 2.30 a year earlier. It also increased its dividend by 5% on Tuesday, from $ 1.01 per share to $ 1.06 per share. (Updates throughout) Visit us at bloomberg.com for more articles like this. Sign up now to stay ahead of the most trusted source of business news. © 2021 Bloomberg LP