Biopharma companies that are involved in the race to develop treatments for COVID-19 are seeing significant changes to their share price. Between January 20 and February 25, 2020, Novacyt and Co-Diagnostics saw their share prices surge by around 800 percent and 300 percent, respectively.
Why are some companies benefiting from COVID-19?
As the search for COVID-19 treatments continues, the spotlight is being shined on biopharma companies trying to contain the spread of the disease. Media attention is helping to drive the short-term share price of companies with COVID-19 programs because opportunistic investors can see the potential in biotech and pharmaceutical stocks. Two companies that have seen their stock value rise are Gilead Sciences (makers of remdesivir) and Moderna (developers of mRNA vaccines).
Gilead’s stock soars on the back of promising research
From a business standpoint, companies could be propelled even further if clinical trials reveal a drug that can successfully treat COVID-19. One of the investigational medicines to show the most potential is remdesivir, which is developed by Gilead Sciences. The drug is being repurposed, and testing is underway to evaluate its safety and efficacy in patients. Positive early data has been reported in the media, and public attention has led to huge changes in the company’s market capitalization. In the United States, the FDA issued an emergency use authorization for remdesivir for the treatment of patients with severe COVID-19 on May 1, 2020.
Share price changes of select biopharmaceutical companies involved in coronavirus (COVID-19) research from January 20 to February 25, 2020
Characteristic
Share price change Jan 20 to Feb 25
Novacyt
799%
Co-Diagnostics
296%
Cocrystal Pharma
256%
Nanoviricides
135%
Zhejiang Hisun Pharmaceutical
52%
Faron Pharmaceuticals
49%
AIM Immunotech
44%
Novavax
39%
Q Biomed
34%
Vir Biotechnology
33%
Ibio
32%
Cytosorbents
24%
Cerus
20%
Created with Highcharts 7.2.2Share price change Jan 20 to Feb 25799%799%296%296%256%256%135%135%52%52%49%49%44%44%39%39%34%34%33%33%32%32%24%24%20%20%15%15%15%15%14%14%13%13%11%11%7%7%7%7%6%6%5%5%2%2%1%1%NovacytCo-DiagnosticsCocrystal PharmaNanoviricidesZhejiang Hisun PharmaceuticalFaron PharmaceuticalsAIM ImmunotechNovavaxQ BiomedVir BiotechnologyIbioCytosorbentsCerusModernaRegeneron PharmaceuticalsInovio PharmaceuticalsInnovation PharmaceuticalsGilead SciencesImmunoprecise AntibodiesCSLSeegeneCytodynPharmamarRoche
You have no right to use this feature.
Make sure to contact us if you are interested in scientific citation.
You can upgrade your account to enable this functionality for all statistics.
This feature is not available with your current account.Request access
Learn more about how Statista can support your business.
Vantage. (February 27, 2020). Share price changes of select biopharmaceutical companies involved in coronavirus (COVID-19) research from January 20 to February 25, 2020 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved May 06, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1103603/coronavirus-related-share-price-changes-in-biopharma/
Vantage. "Share price changes of select biopharmaceutical companies involved in coronavirus (COVID-19) research from January 20 to February 25, 2020." Chart. February 27, 2020. Statista. Accessed May 06, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1103603/coronavirus-related-share-price-changes-in-biopharma/
Vantage. (2020). Share price changes of select biopharmaceutical companies involved in coronavirus (COVID-19) research from January 20 to February 25, 2020. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: May 06, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1103603/coronavirus-related-share-price-changes-in-biopharma/
Vantage. "Share Price Changes of Select Biopharmaceutical Companies Involved in Coronavirus (Covid-19) Research from January 20 to February 25, 2020." Statista, Statista Inc., 27 Feb 2020, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1103603/coronavirus-related-share-price-changes-in-biopharma/
Vantage, Share price changes of select biopharmaceutical companies involved in coronavirus (COVID-19) research from January 20 to February 25, 2020 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1103603/coronavirus-related-share-price-changes-in-biopharma/ (last visited May 06, 2025)
Share price changes of select biopharmaceutical companies involved in coronavirus (COVID-19) research from January 20 to February 25, 2020 [Graph], Vantage, February 27, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1103603/coronavirus-related-share-price-changes-in-biopharma/
Profit from additional features with an Employee Account
Please create an employee account to be able to mark statistics as favorites.
Then you can access your favorite statistics via the star in the header.
Profit from the additional features of your individual account
Currently, you are using a shared account. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set
statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account.
If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again.