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Investing.com -- Shares of pharmaceutical giants Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA), Pfizer (NYSE:PFE), and BioNTech (NASDAQ:BNTX) fell on Monday, with Moderna down 1.2%, Pfizer dropping 1%, and BioNTech slipping 0.9%. The decline came after an announcement that all members of a key vaccine advisory panel would be replaced, a move aimed at bolstering public trust in vaccine recommendations.
The Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP), which evaluates and provides guidance on vaccines to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has been under scrutiny for conflicts of interest and a perceived lack of transparency. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., in an opinion piece published in the Wall Street Journal, outlined the reasons for the overhaul, stating that the committee had become a "rubber stamp" for vaccine approval and had failed to critically evaluate vaccine safety, especially for products given to infants and pregnant women.
Kennedy noted that the committee’s members, some of whom were appointed during the last moments of the Biden administration, would be retired to allow for a new, impartial board capable of restoring public trust. This action follows historical concerns about the committee’s conflict-of-interest issues, which were highlighted in past reports by the House and the Department of Health and Human Services’ inspector general.
The market’s negative reaction reflects concerns over potential disruptions in vaccine approvals and recommendations, which could impact the companies’ vaccine sales. The pharmaceutical industry relies heavily on such endorsements to maintain vaccine uptake and public confidence.
Investors may be cautious as the reconstitution of ACIP could signal a shift in how vaccines are evaluated and recommended in the United States. While the intention is to strengthen public trust and ensure the safety and efficacy of vaccines, the immediate market response suggests apprehension about the future landscape of vaccine regulation and its implications for these leading vaccine manufacturers.
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