Organic electrolytes are intended to advance the energy transition

Organic instead of inorganic electrolytes could make the temporary storage of electricity more environmentally friendly. Lignin is a suitable raw material, electrically active plastics and salt as well.

The town of Alzenau in the far northwest of Bavaria is preparing to make a significant contribution to the success of the energy transition. A 200 kilowatt battery will start operating there in mid-2019. It is intended to store excess electricity so that it can be released without delay in times of lull.

If the powerful turbo-generators of nuclear and coal-fired power plants gradually cease to exist in the coming years, there will be no ready-to-use compensations for supply gaps in the power grid. The generators simply balance them out with their inertia - they run a tiny bit slower for a short time. However, when they are no longer available, other energy storage systems have to step in at lightning speed and supply energy. Batteries have the best cards so far to take this place.

200 KW battery with liquid electrolytes from lignin:

The size of the new electricity storage facility in Alzenau is by no means impressive. The power plant operator Steag in Essen, for example, operates six lithium-ion battery blocks with an output of 15 megawatts each. The fact that a redox flow battery is installed in Alzenau is also not a premiere. But this power storage works with liquid electrolytes that are made from lignin - a natural product that is in the order of millions of tons that is left over every year in paper production. To a certain extent, lignin is the glue that binds the cellulose fibers in the wood together so that massive logs are created. The lignin must be removed before the fibers can be finished into paper. It is usually burned.

Goal: Detach vanadium in electrolytes:

The company CMBlu in Alzenau has developed batteries and electrolytes. The latter are modified quinones, an important group of organic compounds made from lignin sulfonates. They are generated as waste in the manufacture of pulp.

Redox flow batteries typically use electrolytes that contain the relatively rare metal vanadium. A more environmentally friendly solution, where there are also no limitations due to a lack of raw materials, is the use of organic materials such as quinones or conductive plastics in a salt solution, such as Kemiwatt from Rennes in France or JenaBatteries, a spin-off from the University of Jena. While these companies are already selling energy storage, CMBlu is still at the beginning.

Premiere for lignin solution with 50 kilowatt hours:

Redox flow batteries consist of the central reaction chamber, two tanks for the electrolytes and two pumps that carry the liquids. When charging, electrons are transported from one electrolyte to the other. This happens in the reaction chamber, the heart of this battery. When discharging, the process is reversed so that electricity flows - in this case into the grid. The storage capacity of such a system, i.e. the amount of electricity that is buffered, largely depends on the size of the external tanks. CMBlu starts with small containers, so the arrangement can only deliver 50 kilowatt hours. The company claims that it is enough to optimize the system.

The automotive supplier Schaeffler, to which Continental also belongs, has been a partner of CMBlu since the end of 2018. His boss Peter Geigle sees three areas of application for his redox flow battery, also known as a river battery. First of all, there is the intermediate storage of wind and solar power, which is produced more and more frequently and in larger quantities at times when there are no customers. Large batteries can jump in at lightning speed if needed.

With Redox-Flow, e-cars are quickly charged:

This type of battery is also interesting for industry. It can cover peak loads, i.e. the short-term consumption of a particularly large amount of electricity. Obtained from the network, it is extremely expensive. And electric mobility will also benefit from this. The batteries should not be installed in cars, although electric cars with redox flow batteries can drive. Instead, they are used in quick-charging stations that easily deliver 350 kilowatts and charge vehicles quickly. The public power grid rarely offers such high performance. A redox flow battery collects electricity at times when no customer is docked, so that it can start at full power when needed. It is even possible to replace the used electrolyte liquid by tank truck - it can be charged externally.

Search for producing partners

“We don't want to produce anything ourselves. We are a research company that develops the technology to such an extent that it can be passed on to industrial companies, ”says Geigle. He has already signed contracts with customers who want to implement pilot projects over the next two years - including Schaeffler.

Saving money or investing - what makes more sense?

Many people would like to invest money - in stocks or maybe even fixed-rate bonds and alternative investments . However, they often have too much respect for investing on the stock exchange and other asset classes that go beyond saving money in the checking account or savings book.

This way they miss out on great profit opportunities. This is because, above all, equity investments in particular have achieved significantly higher long-term returns compared to the interest on savings deposits, even with a low-risk investment strategy. It is wrong to think that only professionals or rich people can invest money on the stock exchange. Of course, the decision and implementation of these investments takes time and initiative - but anyone can muster that.

This article deals with the basic knowledge for investing capital on the stock exchange. General information on finance can be found here: Investing money for beginners.

What is the difference between the bank's investment products and those of the stock exchange?

Banks often offer overnight money and time deposits as ways to invest money. The advantage of these security-oriented investments is that their risk is low : Money in the overnight deposit account or fixed-term deposit account, for example, is covered by the European deposit insurance fund up to an amount of € 100,000.

If, on the other hand, you invest the money in a company on the stock exchange, you run the risk that these companies will become insolvent at a later date and you will lose money.

Bank deposits such as call money accounts and time deposit accounts are therefore something for investors who are more concerned about security. In contrast, thanks to dividends or profits from price increases, they can achieve much higher interest rates and returns on their money on the stock exchange.

What are the best ways to invest money?

There are many different investment products on the stock exchange in which you can invest money. They can be divided into:

1. ETF (Exchange Traded Funds):

Beginners are often recommended ETF , also called index funds. These are equity funds that are not actively managed by a manager, but instead passively invest in an equity index - such as the DAX - and thus replicate a market as a whole. With an ETF, the investor benefits from a positive overall development of the market - and does not work “against” the market like a fund manager.

2. Funds:

On the other hand, if you want to try to beat the average return on the market, you can invest money in an (actively managed) fund . This represents a basket of selected investment forms, so to speak, and is managed by a fund manager.

Depending on which financial investments are bundled in the respective investment fund, it is referred to as an equity fund, mixed fund, real estate fund etc.

3. Shares:

If you prefer to choose your own shares , it makes sense to invest money in individual stocks. Here you have to be careful, however, that you spread the risk on securities of several different companies and achieve a sufficient spread of the risks within the investment.

4. Bonds:

In addition to stocks, money can also be invested in individual bonds. These are not listed company shares, but rather fixed-interest bonds from companies or countries (e.g. federal bonds ). Profits are not generated with dividends or exchange rate fluctuations, but are paid on the borrowed money like a loan.

5. Leverage products:

For speculators who are willing to take higher risks when investing and play more intensely with their luck, leverage products such as derivatives , certificates or futures can be interesting.

This type of investment is particularly risky and many a trader has already lost a fortune with complex financial products. Therefore, when investing, you should deal very intensively with the trading strategies and test them in demo accounts or sample portfolios before investing real money.

How and where can you invest money on the stock exchange?

You cannot simply “shop” for shares or investment funds directly on the stock exchange. Trading these investments is only possible with a share deposit and an associated clearing account. This is, so to speak, an account for money to be invested, while the custody account is a depository for the purchased securities.

Such a depository can be opened in the classic way at a bank in a branch or online. Alternatively, there are online brokers . Before you decide on a provider, you should definitely compare the costs. You can save a lot of money here . Generally, online brokerage fees are generally cheaper.

What about the investment duration on the stock exchange?

Before each investment, you have to ask yourself how long you can invest or lack the money. Based on this, an investment with the appropriate investment duration can be determined.

For example, investors invest between three and seven years in bonds. The rule applies: the more years, the higher the interest.

However, many investments do not have a maximum term, for example shares or most funds. In this case, the investment is terminated by the resale of the securities. If stocks or shares in a fund are worth more at the time of sale than at the time of acquisition, the investor benefits from price increases.

How much money should I invest on the stock exchange?

There are basically no upper limits for shares - if you have a lot of money available and want to invest, the principle applies: the more the better . However, certain minimum investments should be made. There are reasons for this:

1. Costs reduce returns:

High investment amounts reduce the proportionate costs of investing capital, which may arise from order fees.

Because of these costs, investors should not invest less than € 1,000 in a share. Otherwise, the costs are disproportionately high compared to the investment amount and can only be recovered through a high return . So there are usually no mandatory, but logically reasonable, minimum investments in shares.

2.Unilateral investments increase the risks:

If you invest money in individual stocks, you shouldn't put everything on one horse: invest your money in different companies and industries and diversify your capital investment in order to achieve sufficient risk diversification with a well-designed portfolio .

In addition, you should not only invest your money on the stock exchange. With a well thought-out asset allocation , you not only spread the risk across various securities, but across asset classes such as savings accounts , real estate or commodities. Such a balanced portfolio with sufficient diversification naturally requires a lot of money.

3.The more time, the better:

Only invest as much money as you really have at your disposal . Bear in mind that short investment periods often do not compensate for price falls “in time”, making a loss on sale more likely. The situation is different for longer investment periods . So if you want to invest money in a particular purchase, property, or children's education over the next few years, you shouldn't invest the money in stocks.

Can you invest on the stock exchange with little money?

If you want to get started with a small investment, it makes sense to invest money in equity funds or ETFs. The reason for this is that these financial products are already scattered across different equity stocks. ETFs are also particularly inexpensive.

Investors can also invest smaller amounts in stocks, funds, ETFs, etc. if they regularly deposit money into a savings plan , for example monthly . With small amounts starting at € 10 a month, it is possible for private investors to build up assets on the stock exchange .

Another advantage of savings plans is that you don't have to pay attention to the ideal timing to invest. Since you spread your money over a long period of time, the shares are purchased at an average price. Although this is above the cheapest price within a certain period, it is also below the most expensive ( "cost average effect" ).

All in all, there are various options - also for private investors - to invest money on the stock exchange. A solid basic knowledge of the investor with regard to the individual investment products is the first step to long-term success.

The VW group has specified the planning for its battery cell factory in Salzgitter and increased the financing again. 

Volkswagen is investing a further 450 million euros in the plant, where a joint venture with the Swedish partner Northvolt is to produce cells for electric cars from the beginning of 2024. The money is to flow into the construction of the buildings and plant infrastructure. The plants will then be rented to the joint venture, VW announced on Friday. So far, a total of over one billion euros has been earmarked for the project.

There is already a pilot line and a research center for battery cells in Salzgitter. With Northvolt, the Wolfsburg-based company wants to set up production in three lines. The aim of the own factory is also to reduce the dependency on suppliers from Asia when equipping electric cars. Work on the plant is scheduled to start in early 2021, and the building application has already been submitted.

VW wants to gain experience:

At the end of September 2020, VW had started manufacturing the first cells for prototypes in Salzgitter. The pilot line is primarily used for further technical coordination - but the experience should also flow into the large-scale joint venture with Northvolt. According to the group, the project will create more than 1,000 jobs in the medium term. The majority of the employees at the Salzgitter site are currently still employed in the production of internal combustion engines

Everyone wants to make money online today. Employee preferences are changing. Work-life balance is becoming increasingly important. Flexibility and location independence are two major advantages of earning online.

There are always advertisements on the Internet that promise you to earn money of EUR 10,000 per month online. Most of the time, a hook, or such a job, is associated with great risk. If you want to make money online, you have to do some work first. Often more than you are used to as an employee.

Today, we will clarify the most common and most successful ways you can make money online.

Earn money online with affiliate marketing:

Affiliate marketing is already a common term today. You make money online by recommending certain products . You will receive a commission for the purchase of these products.

To be successful here, there are a few points to consider. You need a large and authentic audience that is interested in your niche. Furthermore, high quality and honest content is required.

Your readers will see through the pushing of products with the highest commission after a short time. It is always important to remain objective and transparent . This is the only way to gain the trust of your readers.

If you are interested in affiliate marketing, you will find a niche where you can have your content in search engines as often as possible. A niche with little competition . It is important to always satisfy users' search queries . If you provide an appropriate solution to your problems, you will be successful. They always have to offer a corresponding added value .

Once you've found your niche, sign up for affiliate programs and use their links to recommend products. For example, Amazon offers one of the largest affiliate programs for product sales. Affiliate marketing is a great way to make money online in the long run.

Write high quality content:

Good content with added value can generate multiple sources of income. On some websites you will often find banners with advertising messages . To a reasonable extent, that's okay too. The advertising revenue helps the website to cover the costs of providing the content. If you have a large audience (at least 10,000 visitors per month), you can use Google AdSense to advertise on your website.

How much money do you earn with AdSense? It depends on several factors. Google repays 68% of the earnings to the publishers. You will only be paid if your reader clicks on the advertisement. The price per click is always different and is determined based on an auction. Here is a practical example for a better understanding: if the click on the advertisement is worth EUR 1, you as the publisher will receive EUR 0.68. Google keeps the 32 cents. It is paid for by advertisers who run active campaigns on the Google Display Network.

photography:

If you are good at photography, you can sell your pictures in various photo databases and make money online. If you can stand out from the competition with your photos, this can be a good additional income. The best-known photo databases include Shutterstock, iStockphoto, Dreamstime or Fotolia .

Programming Skill:

Developers are in high demand today. If you have programming skills, it is relatively easy to work remotely and make money online.

There is a great demand for developers these days when developing apps for Android and IOS devices . With a high added value and appropriate marketing, you can earn a lot of money with it.

Another niche is the development of themes and plugins for various CMS systems such as WordPress . Users love to personalize their website with plugins. If you develop a useful plugin or theme, you can distribute it via platforms such as Themeforest or Envato . Don't forget to maintain and improve your product too. Without support and updates, users will switch to the competition.

Sell ​​your products through e-commerce:

In times of Amazon it is not easy to establish yourself as an online shop. However, once you have found your niche and are offering popular products, that is the way to success. The offer is crucial. Do not compete with the price but convince with the added value of your products. If you sell homemade products, hardly anyone can keep up with them so easily. For example, you can sell your own goods and make money online.

Earn money online with Youtube:

For 1000 views you get 1 EUR . This is the revenue from advertising revenue for publishers. You have to publish a lot of high quality content to make good money online here. Over time, you will build up an audience that will consume your content regularly.

As with other online business models, the same applies here: find your niche and offer excellent content. You have to offer certain additional skills on YouTube. So a video production, sympathy and self-confident appearance are of great importance.

Product placement is an even more attractive form of earnings on YouTube . You advertise relevant niche products in your video. You conclude an advertising contract with your customers and offer space for advertising. Make sure that the products offered really add value. Useless or defective products will only annoy your audience.

Social media management:

Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook and Pinterest are all social media platforms with millions of users. Many companies today have to be represented everywhere and communicate with their audience in order to be successful. It is not always easy to answer all questions and complaints correctly, so that the company's image does not suffer. This is where social media managers come in.

If you have very good communication skills, you can help companies manage their social media accounts. This job can often be managed from anywhere. The aim is to improve the company's image and to provide the necessary customer support. Social media is generally a good way to make money online.

Online Marketing SEO and SEA:

Another way to make money online are online marketing services. Often you specialize in an area such as SEO ( search engine optimization ) or SEA ( search engine advertising ). The aim of online marketing is to address the right target group and to lead the customer to purchase using various marketing instruments.

A lot of study and experience is necessary to become an expert. If you're just starting out, it's good to find a mentor who can answer your questions. Depending on the customer, this job can also be carried out 100% online.

Sell ​​products through Amazon:

Almost everyone knows Amazon. 44 million Germans shop on Amazon. That is more than half of the population of Germany. Amazon is a platform where users are generally inclined to buy. You are about to make a purchase decision and choose the best product.

Sure, Amazon keeps a certain commission. However, you can take full advantage of the platform. You don't have to struggle with the development of an online shop and you don't have to worry about marketing.

Your products on Amazon may appear in search results on Google more than those in your own online store. Your products are also stored on Amazon. This saves you a lot of work.

Of course, the right strategy should also be used here. The competition is enormous, so you should try to sell your own brands. Find a beneficial product that does not yet exist or that you can create better. It is important that this product can be assigned to a product category that is already in demand. This is the only way for users to find your goods.

Sell ​​e-books and make money online:

Are you an expert or have a lot of experience in one field? Why don't you write an e-book and offer it for sale? If the content is high quality, you can make a lot of money online with some marketing.

Open bank accounts and get money:

An old trick that still works. Banks always have offers for new customers. If you open a current account, you will receive a credit or a voucher for 20 to 50 euros. A good tactic for banks to win customers and later offer profitable financial services. The conditions are different. Often you have to do some transactions or recommend friends and family.

Conclusion:

Earning money online is possible. It is only up to you which way you choose. You can also benefit from independence and flexibility. Think about what your strengths are. There may be a demand for it. Take a look at portals like Upwork or Fiverr and try to contact companies to work remotely with the request.

Keep in mind that the beginnings may be difficult. But if you persevere, you can achieve anything.

The industry has never been in the spotlight before. What investors need to know about Corona winners and the excellent long-term prospects of the crisis-proof sector. 

Less than 100 days ago, on January 11, 2020, Chinese researchers uploaded the gene sequence of an unknown virus to the global web. Just five days later, the group led by Christian Drosten from the Berlin Charité published the first protocol according to which an infection with the pathogen known today as SARS- CoV-2 can be detected.

Ever since then, everyday life around the world has changed fundamentally. Scientists and companies in the healthcare industry outperform almost every day with services that previously seemed impossible. Drägerwerk's ventilator production doubled in February and will quadruple in the coming months. Qiagen is now producing extraction kits around the clock, seven days a week, to isolate the virus RNA from throat and nose swabs. To ensure that a vaccine is available as soon as possible, companies are trying to shorten the development, which normally takes ten to 15 years, to one tenth of this time. "There is no precedent for the speed at which we move," says Clement Lewin, who at Sanofi has been working on vaccines for two and a half decades.

The health sector has never been in the spotlight before . Investors now also want to bet on winners on the stock exchange. The industry has a lot more to offer: from extremely defensive companies to risky biotech companies with opportunities for millions of bestsellers, the sector is broadly diversified. At the same time, health is seen to be crisis-proof, and the demand for products and services is constantly increasing due to demographic developments. Read below what investors need to know about the current situation and long-term prospects, which stocks and sector funds are recommended.

The sector has demonstrated its defensive character several times in past economic weaknesses. Both when the dotcom bubble burst in 2000 and in the 2008/2009 financial crisis, healthcare companies' share prices fell less than the broad market. The comparison of profit trends in the MSCI World shows how immune the businesses of Pharma and Co were to the weak phases Healthcare Index and in the MSCI World: While the broad market suffered significant losses, there was only a small profit dip in the healthcare sector. Overall, the industry's profits have grown twice as fast in the past 25 years as in the overall market. The MSCI World Healthcare Index generated an average of ten percent income per year during this period, while the MSCI World Index, on the other hand, just under seven percent.

However, the corona crisis differs from the financial crisis. Operations that are not urgently needed, such as the use of artificial joints, are currently being postponed, and dentists often only treat emergencies. "Orthopedic companies will experience sharp drops in March and the second quarter," said Rudi Van den Eynde, fund manager at Candriam Equities Biotechnology. Dental implant manufacturers also suffer. "But the lost sales can be made up for," Van den Eynde is convinced.

Many clinical trials no longer admit patients; new drug tests are postponed to protect staff and volunteers from being infected with SARS-CoV-2. This can be a problem for unprofitable biotech companies that rely on capital injections in the short term. "For these companies, clinical data is the ultimate currency for their market value," said Bruce Booth, partner at the venture capital firm Atlas Venture. In extreme cases, no data means no fresh money. After all, according to fund manager Van den Eynde, the delay should last a maximum of a few months. "Well-funded and broader companies will easily cope with such delays".

New customers in the digital field

In other areas, on the other hand, business runs much more smoothly - with the chance of future profit increases. "This applies, for example, to providers of practice software and electronic patient files," says Andreas Bischof, co-manager of the nova Steady Healthcare fund . The company Compugroup Medical provides doctors, clinics and midwives with a platform for video consultation free of charge until further notice. "Of course with the ulterior motive that many will continue to use it when the crisis is over," said Bishop. Also online pharmacies like shop pharmacy can win many new buyers. This will pay off if - as decided on April 1 - all prescriptions in Germany must be issued electronically by 2022.

Internationally, digital offers are booming due to the corona crisis. The potential is evident in China, which is a few weeks ahead of the pandemic. "There, the rules were adjusted according to which prescriptions for prescription drugs are issued online and the funds are then sent out," reports Oliver Kubli, fund manager at BB Adamant Asia Pacific Healthcare. "The number of online consultations has also increased dramatically."

Production doesn't keep up

Protective masks and clothing, meanwhile, cannot be produced as quickly as they are needed. The special boom in ventilators is reflected in the balance sheets of Drägerwerk, Getinge or Medtronic knock down. How strong, however, is currently difficult to estimate. No one apart from the manufacturers knows at what prices, for example, the large orders are being processed by governments. Are there discounts or surcharges paid? In the coming weeks, good communication from the companies will be required in order to meet excessive expectations from investors. But there is no doubt that something will get stuck if, like at Qiagen, the test kit production is increased by more than ten times. At the North Rhine-Westphalian molecular diagnostics company, however, the price potential seems limited by the takeover offer from Thermo Fisher at 39 euros per share.

But there are many large corona test providers, for example Biomerieux and the analysis specialist Eurofins. It can currently carry out a total of around 15,000 tests per day in Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Brazil and the USA. The group also checks whether protective equipment such as masks or gloves meets the prescribed standards. Even Roche mixed with in this market. The Swiss also sell the drug Actemra, which is used for severe Covid 19 courses.

Hope for research

While these companies have had real sales increases for weeks, investors are primarily hoping for vaccine and drug manufacturers. It usually takes around ten years to launch a new drug. For security reasons, the process cannot be shortened indefinitely. Covid-19 therefore focuses on compounds that are either already approved for other diseases or that have already passed experimental stages in other indications. The latter applies to remdesivir, an antiviral drug that the US biotech company Gilead originally developed against Ebola.

Data from this time stipulate that remdesivir also works against coronaviruses in test tubes. Unfortunately, such a preclinical observation is no guarantee that the drug will also work in humans. The first results of the study should come in the next few days. The news portal "Statnews" reports that remdesivir has improved in a clinic in Chicago in just over 100 patients. Observations from China, however, sounded less optimistic. The infusion would certainly be used on a broad front even if its effectiveness was not outstanding. Pricing would be a tightrope walk for Gilead. The group is already hearing accusations of wanting to profit from the crisis. Countries like China or India could threaten to manufacture remdesivir themselves, disregarding patent protection,

Experts have little hope of the malaria drug chloroquine. While it would be very gratifying from an epidemiological point of view if the widely available and cheap chloroquine tablets could combat Covid-19, they hold little potential for investors because patent protection has already expired.

Antibody drugs that develop Regeneron and Vir, among others, are further away from potential approval. This could become a powerful weapon, but the first trials on patients will be in June at the earliest. At best, the funds would be available at the end of the year.

The world will probably have to wait a similar length of time for a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2. Moderna or Mainz-based Biontech are at the forefront here with their RNA vaccines. They are only injected with the "building instructions" for a virus part, the body then produces the molecule itself and develops an immune response to it. This has never been done before, but would have advantages in terms of production technology. Traditional vaccines are more complex to produce and are a strength of large corporations. Here, too, companies face moral pitfalls. Paul Stoffels, head of research at the US pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson, recently said that if the company succeeded, the company would provide a billion doses of vaccine at cost price.

It is such factors that health fund managers stubbornly stick to their existing investment strategy. None of the experienced investors the editors have spoken to in the past few weeks are converting their portfolios in favor of Corona winners. "The corona virus is primarily not an investment case," say the managers of the Swiss investment company BB Biotech. Companies like Gilead and Regeneron, Vir or Moderna have already held many funds for a long time anyway - because they are convinced of their long-term opportunities.

No matter how the fight ends, the virus improves the industry's reputation and raises awareness of its importance. Experts expect increasing investments in the health system due to the pandemic in the next few years. "Aside from the lives that can be saved - building up the appropriate capacities and keeping them permanently available costs little compared to the burdens that are now being caused by the downturn in the economy," said fund manager Bishop.

Corona winners

Good chances of winning

The shares of the companies listed in the table are already traded on the stock exchange as clear beneficiaries of the corona crisis. However, the success of these companies is still associated with numerous uncertainties. For this reason, investors must expect strong price fluctuations for these stocks until further notice. Speculative. 

Company : ISIN 

Biomerieux FR 001 328 028 6 

Biontech US 090 75V 102 6

Drägerwerk DE 000 555 063 6 

Eurofins FR 000 003 825 9 

Getinge SE 000 020 262 4 

Gilead US 375 558 103 6 

Moderna US 607 70K 107 9 

Regeneron US 758 86F 107 5

Shop pharmacy NL 001 204 474 7 

Vir US 927 64N 102 8 

Source: Bloomberg

A coronavirus vaccine may be available on an emergency basis in the fall if it proves to be safe during testing, Pfizer Inc announced on Tuesday. Vaccine testing, which has already started in Germany, could start in the US next week if health authorities agree, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said in an interview. The results of the study could then be available next month.

Pfizer needs to do more tests to make sure the vaccine works safely. If all tests are successful, Pfizer could start distributing the vaccine on an emergency basis in the fall - and get approval for large-scale distribution by the end of the year, Bourla said.

Pfizer works with the Mainz-based biotechnology company BioNTech to develop the vaccine. BioNTech announced last week that it had received approval for the first clinical trial of a COVID-19 vaccine in Germany.

BioNTech and Pfizer vaccinate the first twelve subjects in the COVID-19 study

The Mainz-based biotech company and the US pharmaceutical giant have started the clinical trial of their COVID-19 vaccine candidate BNT162. Twelve study participants in Germany have been vaccinated with BNT162 since the start of the study on April 23, 2020, as the two companies announced. This concludes the first dose cohort.

In order to find the optimal dose for the further studies, about 200 healthy volunteers between the ages of 18 and 55 should be vaccinated, the dose range is 1 to 100 micrograms. The safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine will also be investigated. Subjects at higher risk for a severe course of COVID-19 infection are included in the second part of the study.

The study is the first clinical trial of a vaccine candidate against the lung disease COVID-19 caused by the novel coronavirus in Germany. The two companies expect approval of studies for BNT162 in the United States shortly.

BioNTech and Pfizer are working together to develop BNT162. BioNTech will ensure clinical delivery of the vaccine through its manufacturing facilities in Europe. The company is also working with Fosun Pharma to develop BNT162 in China, where the companies plan to conduct clinical trials.

Artical:finanzen.net