Health Care Up As BioNTech, Pfizer Gain On U.K. Vaccine Approval -- Health Care Roundup

Health-care companies rose after the United Kingdom became the first Western nation to approve emergency use of the Covid-19 vaccine.

The U.K.'s medicines regulator approved the Covid-19 vaccine jointly developed by U.S. drug giant Pfizer and German partner BioNTech, and is preparing to take shipment of tens of thousands of doses. Shares of BioNTech and Pfizer rallied.

A panel of experts advising the Food and Drug Administration is planning to review the vaccine on Dec. 10, with approval possible in the following days.

The U.S. reported more than 180,000 cases of Covid 19 for Tuesday, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, up from 157,901 a day earlier and 172,935 a week earlier.

The telemedicine arm of Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com raised $3.5 billion in Hong Kong's largest initial public offering this year, a reflection of growing investor appetite for risk and expectations that many people will continue online doctor visits, even after the Covid pandemic passes.

Write to Rob Curran at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

12-02-20 1652ET