KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 8): Pharmaceutical counters Pharmaniaga Bhd and Duopharma Biotech Bhd, which are expected to take part in the fill-and-finish process of a Covid-19 vaccine for Malaysia, rose in active trade this morning after the World Health Organization (WHO) said a vaccine against the virus could be ready by year end.

The share prices of both stocks have more than doubled since July 14 this year after the government announced that it had identified the two government-linked companies to undertake the fill-and-finish process for the Covid-19 vaccine — once it is developed — as they had unused capacity that could be directed towards the purpose.

However, the government later clarified that the process would not just be confined to the two companies.

As at 11.10am today, Pharmaniaga was 16 sen or 3.46% higher at RM4.78, valuing the stock at RM1.2 billion. The counter has more than doubled from RM2.25 on July 14.

Meanwhile, Duopharma climbed 14 sen or 4.08% to RM3.57, a 119% jump from RM1.63 on July 14, giving it a market capitalisation of RM2.4 billion.

On Tuesday, Reuters reported that WHO director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus had called for solidarity and political commitment by all leaders to ensure equal distribution of vaccines when they become available.

"We will need vaccines, and there is hope that by the end of this year, we may have a vaccine. There is hope," Reuters reported him as saying during a two-day board meeting.