EMA Recommends Targeting XFG Variant for 2026/2027 Vaccines
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 16 hours ago
0mins
Source: seekingalpha
- Vaccine Development Focus: The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recommended that vaccine manufacturers target the SARS-CoV-2 variant XFG for the 2026/2027 immunization campaign, reflecting a proactive approach to current epidemiological trends aimed at enhancing vaccine efficacy.
- Variant Prevalence: As of October 2025, XFG accounted for 74% of infections, demonstrating its dominance among JN.1 subvariants, and the EMA's recommendation aims to address this prevalence to ensure vaccines are both targeted and effective.
- International Collaboration: The EMA made its recommendation in consultation with the World Health Organization and international partners, ensuring that the perspectives of vaccine manufacturers were considered, which reflects the EMA's global outlook and collaborative spirit in vaccine development.
- FDA Support for Adjustment: An FDA advisory panel voted 8-0 to support adjusting the next round of COVID vaccines to reflect the XFG variant, indicating that this variant made up over 50% of U.S. cases, further underscoring the necessity for vaccine adjustments.
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Analyst Views on PFE
Wall Street analysts forecast PFE stock price to rise
16 Analyst Rating
5 Buy
11 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 26.140
Low
24.00
Averages
28.56
High
35.00
Current: 26.140
Low
24.00
Averages
28.56
High
35.00
About PFE
Pfizer Inc. is a research-based, global biopharmaceutical company. The Company is engaged in the discovery, development, manufacture, marketing, sale and distribution of biopharmaceutical products worldwide. Its Biopharma segment includes the Pfizer U.S. Commercial Division, and the Pfizer International Commercial Division. Its product categories include oncology, primary care and specialty care. Its oncology products include Ibrance, Xtandi, Padcev, Adcetris, Inlyta, Lorbrena, Bosulif, Tukysa, Braftovi, Mektovi, Orgovyx, Elrexfio, Tivdak and Talzenna. Its primary care products include Eliquis, Nurtec ODT/Vydura, Zavzpret, the Prevnar family, Comirnaty, Abrysvo, FSME/IMMUN-TicoVac, Nimenrix, Trumenba, and Paxlovid. Its specialty care products include Xeljanz, Enbrel (outside the United States and Canada), Inflectra, Abrilada, Cibinqo, Litfulo, Eucrisa, Velsipity, the Vyndaqel family, Genotropin, and others. Its PF-08653944 is an ultra-long-acting fully biased GLP-1 receptor agonist.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Innovent and Pfizer Enter Strategic Collaboration for Cancer Medicines
- Strategic Collaboration Agreement: Innovent and Pfizer have signed a global strategic licensing and collaboration agreement to co-develop 12 early-stage cancer medicines, comprising eight Innovent-originated programs and four Pfizer-proposed projects, aimed at accelerating the development and commercialization of cancer treatments.
- Financial Terms Highlights: Under the agreement, Innovent will receive a $650 million upfront payment and is eligible for up to $9.85 billion in milestone payments, bringing the total deal value to up to $10.5 billion, reflecting strong confidence and expectations for future collaboration.
- Global Market Expansion: This partnership allows Innovent to retain rights in Greater China while co-developing and commercializing projects in the U.S. and Europe, significantly enhancing its global market presence and business reach.
- R&D Resource Integration: By integrating Innovent's early clinical capabilities with Pfizer's global R&D resources, both companies aim to accelerate the development of new drugs, providing more effective treatment options for cancer patients worldwide and pushing the industry standards forward.
See More
EMA Recommends Targeting XFG Variant for 2026/2027 Vaccines
- Vaccine Development Focus: The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recommended that vaccine manufacturers target the SARS-CoV-2 variant XFG for the 2026/2027 immunization campaign, reflecting a proactive approach to current epidemiological trends aimed at enhancing vaccine efficacy.
- Variant Prevalence: As of October 2025, XFG accounted for 74% of infections, demonstrating its dominance among JN.1 subvariants, and the EMA's recommendation aims to address this prevalence to ensure vaccines are both targeted and effective.
- International Collaboration: The EMA made its recommendation in consultation with the World Health Organization and international partners, ensuring that the perspectives of vaccine manufacturers were considered, which reflects the EMA's global outlook and collaborative spirit in vaccine development.
- FDA Support for Adjustment: An FDA advisory panel voted 8-0 to support adjusting the next round of COVID vaccines to reflect the XFG variant, indicating that this variant made up over 50% of U.S. cases, further underscoring the necessity for vaccine adjustments.
See More
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- JNJ TREMFYA Label Expansion: Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) received FDA approval to add structural joint-damage inhibition data to the TREMFYA label for active psoriatic arthritis, confirming its unique position in first-line treatment with no new safety signals, reinforcing its market leadership.
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FDA Proposes Reducing Animal Studies for Cancer Drugs
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- Shortening R&D Timelines: The agency noted that current R&D timelines extend 10 to 12 years, and this proposal aims to shorten that duration, enhancing the efficiency of bringing new therapies to market to meet urgent healthcare demands.
- Public Comment Period: The draft guidance is open for public comments until July 30, as the FDA seeks to refine this policy through stakeholder feedback, further promoting regulatory pathways for drug development.
- Commitment to Reduce Animal Testing: FDA's oncology head, Angelo de Claro, emphasized that this guidance not only supports the commitment to expedite regulatory pathways but also fulfills the agency's promise to reduce the use of animal testing in drug development, reflecting a dual focus on ethics and science.
See More
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- Valuation Metrics Analysis: The grades are based on various valuation metrics, including P/E, PEG, EV/Sales, and others, utilizing both current and forward estimates to help investors identify potential investment opportunities.
- Market Performance Comparison: Among the cheapest U.S. stocks rated, Pfizer, FNMA, and EIX all received an A grade, suggesting these companies are relatively inexpensive in their respective industries, which may attract value investors' attention.
- Future Outlook: As the market reassesses valuations, Pfizer's $10.5 billion oncology deal with China's Innovent could further enhance its market position and boost investor confidence.
See More
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- Risk Reduction: LORBRENA reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 81% compared to XALKORI, providing a more effective treatment option for ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer patients and potentially changing clinical treatment standards.
- Consistent Safety Profile: Pfizer reported no new safety signals in this trial, with the safety profiles of both treatments remaining consistent with earlier findings, further enhancing clinical confidence in LORBRENA's use.
- Future Presentation Plans: Pfizer plans to present these results at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting and publish them in Annals of Oncology, which is expected to garner significant attention in the industry and boost LORBRENA's market recognition.
See More
Innovent and Pfizer Enter Strategic Collaboration for Cancer Medicines
- Strategic Collaboration Agreement: Innovent and Pfizer have signed a global strategic licensing and collaboration agreement to co-develop 12 early-stage cancer medicines, comprising eight Innovent-originated programs and four Pfizer-proposed projects, aimed at accelerating the development and commercialization of cancer treatments.
- Financial Terms Highlights: Under the agreement, Innovent will receive a $650 million upfront payment and is eligible for up to $9.85 billion in milestone payments, bringing the total deal value to up to $10.5 billion, reflecting strong confidence and expectations for future collaboration.
- Global Market Expansion: This partnership allows Innovent to retain rights in Greater China while co-developing and commercializing projects in the U.S. and Europe, significantly enhancing its global market presence and business reach.
- R&D Resource Integration: By integrating Innovent's early clinical capabilities with Pfizer's global R&D resources, both companies aim to accelerate the development of new drugs, providing more effective treatment options for cancer patients worldwide and pushing the industry standards forward.
See More
EMA Recommends Targeting XFG Variant for 2026/2027 Vaccines
- Vaccine Development Focus: The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recommended that vaccine manufacturers target the SARS-CoV-2 variant XFG for the 2026/2027 immunization campaign, reflecting a proactive approach to current epidemiological trends aimed at enhancing vaccine efficacy.
- Variant Prevalence: As of October 2025, XFG accounted for 74% of infections, demonstrating its dominance among JN.1 subvariants, and the EMA's recommendation aims to address this prevalence to ensure vaccines are both targeted and effective.
- International Collaboration: The EMA made its recommendation in consultation with the World Health Organization and international partners, ensuring that the perspectives of vaccine manufacturers were considered, which reflects the EMA's global outlook and collaborative spirit in vaccine development.
- FDA Support for Adjustment: An FDA advisory panel voted 8-0 to support adjusting the next round of COVID vaccines to reflect the XFG variant, indicating that this variant made up over 50% of U.S. cases, further underscoring the necessity for vaccine adjustments.
See More
Regulatory Approvals and Collaborations in Biotech Sector
- FDA Approval for AZN: AstraZeneca (AZN) secured FDA approval for the IMFINZI + BCG combination in high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer, supported by Phase 3 POTOMAC data showing a 32% reduction in recurrence or death, enhancing its competitive edge in oncology.
- JNJ TREMFYA Label Expansion: Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) received FDA approval to add structural joint-damage inhibition data to the TREMFYA label for active psoriatic arthritis, confirming its unique position in first-line treatment with no new safety signals, reinforcing its market leadership.
- LINZESS Approved for Children: Ironwood Pharmaceuticals (IRWD) gained FDA approval for LINZESS to treat functional constipation in children aged 2-5, based on a 12-week Phase 3 trial showing significant improvement in spontaneous bowel movements, expanding its pediatric market influence.
- AbbVie's DECNUPAZ Approval: AbbVie (ABBV) received FDA approval for DECNUPAZ to treat ultra-rare blood cancer BPDCN, supported by Phase 1 data showing a 69.7% composite complete response rate and a median duration of 9.7 months, marking a significant innovation in hematologic oncology.
See More
FDA Proposes Reducing Animal Studies for Cancer Drugs
- Reduction in Animal Testing: The FDA has proposed to reduce animal studies in cancer drug development by recommending only rodent trials or replacing three-month non-human primate studies with evidence-based risk assessments, thereby expediting the drug development process.
- Shortening R&D Timelines: The agency noted that current R&D timelines extend 10 to 12 years, and this proposal aims to shorten that duration, enhancing the efficiency of bringing new therapies to market to meet urgent healthcare demands.
- Public Comment Period: The draft guidance is open for public comments until July 30, as the FDA seeks to refine this policy through stakeholder feedback, further promoting regulatory pathways for drug development.
- Commitment to Reduce Animal Testing: FDA's oncology head, Angelo de Claro, emphasized that this guidance not only supports the commitment to expedite regulatory pathways but also fulfills the agency's promise to reduce the use of animal testing in drug development, reflecting a dual focus on ethics and science.
See More
Valuation Analysis of U.S. Stocks: Pfizer and Others Undervalued
- Valuation Overview: According to Seeking Alpha's valuation grades, Pfizer (PFE), Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA), and Edison International (EIX) are rated as relatively undervalued among companies with market capitalizations above $10 billion, indicating their attractiveness compared to peers.
- Valuation Metrics Analysis: The grades are based on various valuation metrics, including P/E, PEG, EV/Sales, and others, utilizing both current and forward estimates to help investors identify potential investment opportunities.
- Market Performance Comparison: Among the cheapest U.S. stocks rated, Pfizer, FNMA, and EIX all received an A grade, suggesting these companies are relatively inexpensive in their respective industries, which may attract value investors' attention.
- Future Outlook: As the market reassesses valuations, Pfizer's $10.5 billion oncology deal with China's Innovent could further enhance its market position and boost investor confidence.
See More
Pfizer's LORBRENA Shows Significant Efficacy Improvement
- Survival Rate Improvement: In the seven-year follow-up of the Phase 3 CROWN trial, 55% of patients treated with LORBRENA remained alive without disease progression, compared to only 3% in the XALKORI group, demonstrating LORBRENA's significant advantage in treating ALK-positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer.
- Risk Reduction: LORBRENA reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 81% compared to XALKORI, providing a more effective treatment option for ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer patients and potentially changing clinical treatment standards.
- Consistent Safety Profile: Pfizer reported no new safety signals in this trial, with the safety profiles of both treatments remaining consistent with earlier findings, further enhancing clinical confidence in LORBRENA's use.
- Future Presentation Plans: Pfizer plans to present these results at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting and publish them in Annals of Oncology, which is expected to garner significant attention in the industry and boost LORBRENA's market recognition.
See More
