According to Zhito Finance APP, Jefferies believes that the biopharmaceutical company Arbutus Biopharma (ABUS.US) may benefit from the H5N1 Bird Flu vaccine being developed by Moderna (MRNA.US) and Pfizer (PFE.US)/GlaxoSmithKline (GSK.US)/CureVac (CVAV.US).

Jefferies stated that Moderna, Pfizer, and their partner BioNTech (BNTX.US) are being sued by Arbutus, claiming that the LNP technology used in their respective COVID-19 vaccines infringes on patents. Jefferies noted, "We are generally Bullish that Arbutus can not only obtain damages for historical revenues from these lawsuits but also gain royalty income from future sales."

Jefferies added that if these pharmaceutical companies use the same LNP costs for the mRNA Bird Flu vaccine as they did for the COVID-19 vaccine, "royalties could be higher." Jefferies has given a "Buy" rating to Arbutus Stocks with a Target Price of $7. As of Tuesday's market close, Arbutus was priced at $3.41 per share.

Data shows that since the beginning of 2024, the USA has reported 66 cases of human H5N1. Most became infected after close contact with cattle, experiencing mild symptoms. On January 6, the Louisiana Department of Health reported the first death in the USA from the H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus. The health department stated that the deceased was over 65 years old and had underlying diseases, having contracted the virus through contact with backyard poultry and wild birds. Genetic analysis indicated that the avian influenza virus had mutated within the patient, which could lead to a worsening condition.