Alpho: AstraZeneca protects its vaccine, yet the company's shares continue to remain under pressure

In the last few weeks, the public has feared the danger of blood clots possibly caused by AstraZeneca vaccine. However, the company denied the charges last week after examining 17 million people who had been vaccinated in Europe and Great Britain. AstraZeneca's statement was later supported even by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Nevertheless, Norwegian scientists claim that their research supports the fear of public. And so, after some positive news, AstraZeneca's stock reappeared under pressure.

While AstraZeneca's stock was traded at £71 per share last month on the London Stock Exchange, in the beginning of March its value dropped to £67 per share. Following a series of ups and downs in recent weeks, the value rose to £72 per share in the beginning of last week.

Similarly, to AstraZeneca, EMA supported the safety of the vaccine and stated there’s no evidence that vaccination could cause blood clots, though concerns had been raised by more countries. While EMA expressed its trust in benefits of the vaccination, it confirmed having accepted 37 reports on blood clots connected to AstraZeneca vaccine. The agency highlighted that clinical trials did not prove any such consequences, and on top of that, thromboembolic events appear annually in 1,000 people in the European Union. Since some good news was published, AstraZeneca's stock responded with recovery.

However, the World Health Organization (WHO) supports AstraZeneca vaccines, and refers to audit performed by the Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety, which sat down to discuss the suspicion during last week. According to WHO, positives outweigh negatives.

Following mixed opinions and information published last week, AstraZeneca's stock slightly dropped. Nevertheless, when comparing shares in one-year and five-year horizon, its value appears in green numbers. Once global authorities assure the public of vaccine’s safety, AstraZeneca's stock could continue to rise. However, if more bad news emerged, shares could repeatedly plunge.

Even though the current situation is a detriment to AstraZeneca's shares, it should not affect income of the company much as AstraZeneca does not sell its vaccine with a profit during the pandemic. Economic results will depend on sales of other pharmaceutical products offered by the company.  

Lưu Đỗ Hoàng Anh, financial analyst of Alpho