“We still do not know whether mRNA-1273 is in fact protective against coronavirus infection in humans,” said BMO Capital Markets’ George Farmer. Translation: Nobody knows if the vaccine works yet. The company has also not said how it plans to make money on the vaccine.
The same market-shifting dynamic happened a few weeks before with Gilead Sciences Inc.
In April, the company and the broader market surged after a report that the company’s Covid-19 drug had helped a small group of patients in Chicago. A week later, they plunged -- and sent the S&P 500 down as well -- after another report that the drug might not work, after all.