J&J shares rise on Covid-19 vaccine trial news as EU spat with AstraZeneca worsens

Johnson & Johnson chief executive Alex Gorsky said he expected to release its late-stage vaccine trial early next week

The Johnson & Johnson plant in Ringaskiddy, Co Cork: Any J&J vaccine, once approved, may be able to be distributed more easily than the vaccine developed and produced by BioNTech of Germany and Pfizer of the US. File picture; David Creedon / Anzenberger

Shares in Johnson & Johnson rose sharply as the US drug giant said it would soon have news of its Covid-19 vaccine candidate, while AstraZeneca, the British drugs firm involved in a spat with the EU over vaccine supplies, were little changed.

The potential for the new vaccine developments remains the focus of investors, including the companies that are seeking to secure early approval when they report their latest trial results to the US and European medicine watchdogs.