Chinese researchers have identified a new coronavirus in bats that enters human cells through the same pathway as SARS-CoV-2, according to Bloomberg. The discovery at the Wuhan Institute of Virology sparked movement in vaccine company stocks, despite no human infections being reported.
The research, published in the scientific journal Cell, revealed that the newly discovered bat virus shares key characteristics with the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in how it infiltrates cells.
Vaccine manufacturers saw their shares climb following the news. Moderna's stock rose up to 6.6%, while Novavax experienced an increase of up to 7.8%. BioNTech's American depositary receipts gained as much as 5.1%, and Pfizer shares increased up to 2.6%, according to Bloomberg.
The Wuhan facility, which specializes in bat coronavirus research, has been at the center of discussions about the pandemic's origins. The US terminated funding to the lab in 2023, ending support that had been channeled through the US-based EcoHealth Alliance.
Scientists found that the virus binds to a protein commonly present in humans and other mammals. The pathogen shows a close relation to the coronavirus family responsible for Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), Bloomberg reported.
MERS has infected approximately 2,600 people globally between 2012 and May 2024, with a mortality rate of about 36%. The World Health Organization reported that Saudi Arabia recorded the majority of these cases.
