In the minds of many Americans, vaccines are practically synonymous with shots. However, one small company -- Vaxart (VXRT -2.24%) -- is developing an experimental oral COVID-19 vaccine. In this Motley Fool Live video, recorded on Jan. 19, Fool contributors Keith Speights and Brian Orelli answer a viewer's question about whether or not Vaxart's oral COVID-19 vaccine has a chance to succeed.
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Keith Speights: Pierre asks, "Does Vaxart -- ticker there is VXRT -- have any chance to join the party with its pill for COVID?"
Brian Orelli: Remind me, is Vaxart the one that has the oral pill?
Speights: Yeah.
Orelli: In the phase 1, it didn't seem to be generating as good antibodies, if I remember correctly, but they went ahead and moved it into phase 3. But I haven't seen any phase 3 data. [Editor's note: Vaxart's experimental oral vaccine is in phase 2 rather than phase 2 testing.]
Certainly, I think a pill would be huge, especially for children. But I don't think we have the answer to that question yet because I don't think we have enough clinical trial data to know. But that's where I'd say we're at.
Speights: Yeah. I agree. A chance? Yeah, sure there's a chance. I think the advantages of a vaccine pill would certainly be substantial if it has great efficacy.
We just don't know yet. Vaxart continues to be a stock to watch, but it's also a risky stock.
Editor's note: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that Vaxart's oral COVID-19 vaccine candidate is in phase 2 testing. The candidate is actually in phase 2 testing. The Fool regrets the error.
