The CEO of Moderna, Stéphane Bancel, thinks that the pandemic is almost over – he sees 2022 as the year we all get our lives back. In a recent interview, Bancel stated that the COVID-19 vaccines could help us get back to normality in the second half of the year. And we know for sure that we would be happy, but is that something that can really happen?
Moderna has seen $20 billion in sales for its COVID-19 vaccine during 2021. And it might see the same number in sales next year. But if the pandemic ends, then 2023 will be a poor year in sales. Moderna offers two doses of the vaccine. In a world after the pandemic, the company would only see a one-shot dose, and that, on a relatively frequent basis.
Bancel is quite sure about the annual boosters, but no one really knows whether that will be possible on an annual basis or even at all. And we cannot forget about the fact that after people no longer see COVID-19 as a threat, they will stop protecting themselves and will stop getting the vaccine.
Its rival, Pfizer, has already started working on oral COVID-19 pills, which can be used for post-exposure. And if it is successful, then this is yet another reason why people won’t get vaccinated.
Moderna doesn’t really have anything on the market besides its COVID-19 vaccine. It still has some programs, but they are still in their late-stage testing. The company has in its plan to move on with the development of the cytomegalovirus (CMV) vaccine candidate mRNA-1647 – they want to start the phase 3 clinical studies. But it will still take them a few years to reach the market. The company expects sales of between $2 billion and $5 billion.
So, for now, Moderna is holding tight, and the pandemic is still happening.
