PCVX Stock: Insider Activity, Filings & Research
Vaxcyte, Inc. (PCVX) — Drillr’s hub for PCVX insider activity, SEC filings, earnings signals and AI research. Over the trailing 3 months, PCVX insiders filed 0 open-market buys and 9 sales (SEC Form 4).
PCVX insider trading activity (SEC Form 4)
| Date | Insider | Type | Shares | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 1, 2026 | Wassil Jimofficer: CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER | Sell | 2,250 | $56.83 |
| Apr 8, 2026 | Cowan Elviaofficer: SVP, Finance & CAO | Sell | 3,000 | $60.00 |
| Apr 8, 2026 | Cowan Elviaofficer: SVP, Finance & CAO | Option | 3,000 | $25.92 |
| Apr 3, 2026 | Wassil Jimofficer: CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER | Sell | 838 | $58.93 |
| Apr 3, 2026 | Wassil Jimofficer: CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER | Sell | 1,412 | $58.14 |
| Mar 18, 2026 | Cowan Elviaofficer: SVP, Finance & CAO | Sell | 1,487 | $55.39 |
| Mar 18, 2026 | Cowan Elviaofficer: SVP, Finance & CAO | Sell | 405 | $56.26 |
| Mar 11, 2026 | PICKERING GRANTdirector, officer: CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | Tax | 3,685 | $59.32 |
| Mar 11, 2026 | Cowan Elviaofficer: SVP, Finance & CAO | Tax | 495 | $59.32 |
| Mar 11, 2026 | Wassil Jimofficer: CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER | Sell | 4,968 | $59.16 |
| Mar 11, 2026 | Cowan Elviaofficer: SVP, Finance & CAO | Option | 2,500 | $25.92 |
| Mar 11, 2026 | Dhaliwal Harpreet S.officer: Chief Technical Ops Officer | Tax | 604 | $59.32 |
| Mar 11, 2026 | Wassil Jimofficer: CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER | Sell | 2,427 | $58.32 |
| Mar 11, 2026 | GUGGENHIME ANDREWofficer: PRESIDENT AND CFO | Tax | 1,021 | $59.32 |
| Mar 11, 2026 | Cowan Elviaofficer: SVP, Finance & CAO | Sell | 2,500 | $58.59 |
Source: PCVX SEC Form 4 filings, latest May 1, 2026. For informational purposes only — not investment advice.
Vaxcyte, Inc. company profile
Overview
Vaxcyte, Inc. (NASDAQ:PCVX) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company founded in 2013 and headquartered in San Carlos, California. Originally incorporated as SutroVax, Inc., the company rebranded to Vaxcyte in May 2020 and went public in June 2020. Vaxcyte specializes in developing novel protein vaccines designed to prevent or treat bacterial infectious diseases, with a particular focus on pneumococcal infections and other serious bacterial pathogens that pose significant public health challenges.
Business
Vaxcyte operates in the vaccine biotechnology sector, developing next-generation protein vaccines to combat bacterial infectious diseases. The company's approach focuses on creating conjugate vaccines, which are sophisticated immunizations that combine bacterial sugar molecules (polysaccharides) with carrier proteins to enhance immune response, particularly in vulnerable populations like infants and elderly adults. The company's primary focus is on pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs), which prevent invasive pneumococcal disease and pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. Pneumococcal infections are a leading cause of bacterial pneumonia, meningitis, and bloodstream infections worldwide, particularly dangerous for children under 5 and adults over 65. Current market-leading vaccines like Pfizer's Prevnar series cover 13-20 bacterial strains (serotypes), but Vaxcyte aims to provide broader protection. The company's lead vaccine candidates include: 1. VAX-24 - A 24-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine currently in Phase 1/2 clinical trials for both adults and infants. This vaccine targets 24 different pneumococcal serotypes and has received FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation for adults. 2. VAX-31 - A more comprehensive 31-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine designed to cover approximately 95% of invasive pneumococcal disease cases in U.S. adults, also in Phase 1/2 trials. 3. VAX-A1 - A conjugate vaccine candidate targeting Group A Streptococcus, which causes strep throat, skin infections, and potentially life-threatening conditions like necrotizing fasciitis. 4. VAX-PG - A therapeutic vaccine targeting the keystone pathogen responsible for periodontitis (severe gum disease). The pneumococcal vaccine programs represent the vast majority of the company's development focus and potential revenue opportunity, as the global pneumococcal vaccine market is valued at approximately $8 billion annually.
Revenue model
Vaxcyte operates under a typical biotech business model focused on developing proprietary vaccines for eventual commercialization. As a clinical-stage company, Vaxcyte currently generates no revenue and funds operations through equity financing and strategic partnerships. The company's future revenue model will primarily depend on product sales of approved vaccines to healthcare providers, government immunization programs, and potentially through licensing agreements with pharmaceutical partners. The company's paying customers will ultimately include government health agencies (like the CDC's Vaccines for Children program), healthcare systems, pediatric practices, and adult healthcare providers. Pneumococcal vaccines are typically included in routine immunization schedules, providing a predictable market with both pediatric and adult populations requiring vaccination. Several factors could significantly impact Vaxcyte's future margins and commercial success. Positive factors include the large addressable market size (approximately $8 billion globally for pneumococcal vaccines), potential for premium pricing due to broader serotype coverage compared to existing vaccines, and the possibility of receiving preferred recommendations from advisory committees like ACIP (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices), which would drive adoption. The company's proprietary cell-free protein synthesis platform may also provide manufacturing cost advantages. Risk factors that could pressure margins include intense competition from established players like Pfizer (Prevnar franchise) and Merck, the substantial manufacturing capital requirements (Vaxcyte is investing $300-350 million in dedicated manufacturing facilities), regulatory approval risks inherent in vaccine development, and potential pricing pressure from government purchasers. Additionally, the company faces the challenge of demonstrating not just non-inferiority to existing vaccines but meaningful clinical advantages that justify adoption by healthcare providers and inclusion in immunization guidelines. The company is establishing large-scale manufacturing capabilities through a partnership with Lonza, building dedicated facilities to support global commercialization. This vertical integration strategy aims to capture more value but requires substantial upfront capital investment and operational expertise.
Competitive moat
Vaxcyte's competitive moat is currently developing but shows promising characteristics typical of successful vaccine companies. The company's primary moat stems from its proprietary cell-free protein synthesis technology and carrier-sparing approach, which allows for the creation of vaccines with broader serotype coverage while maintaining immune responses to previously covered strains. This technological advantage enables VAX-31 to potentially cover 95% of pneumococcal disease cases compared to 60-70% coverage of existing vaccines. The regulatory moat is significant in the vaccine industry, as achieving FDA approval requires extensive clinical trials demonstrating safety and efficacy. Vaxcyte's Breakthrough Therapy Designation for VAX-24 provides regulatory advantages and faster review timelines. Once approved, vaccines benefit from high switching costs, as healthcare providers and immunization programs are reluctant to change established vaccination schedules without compelling clinical evidence. However, Vaxcyte's moat faces several challenges. The company competes against Pfizer's dominant Prevnar franchise, which has deep market penetration, established relationships with healthcare providers, and substantial resources for competitive response. Pfizer is also developing next-generation pneumococcal vaccines, potentially including higher-valent formulations. Merck represents another formidable competitor with vaccine development capabilities and market access. The strength of Vaxcyte's eventual moat will largely depend on clinical trial outcomes and the magnitude of improvement over existing vaccines. If VAX-24 or VAX-31 demonstrate superior immune responses and broader protection, the company could establish a strong competitive position. However, if clinical results show only marginal improvements, the moat may prove insufficient against well-established competitors with superior commercial infrastructure and market relationships. The company's manufacturing partnership with Lonza provides some operational advantages but doesn't create a unique competitive barrier, as other companies can establish similar manufacturing relationships. Long-term success will require not just superior products but also effective market penetration strategies and potentially favorable advisory committee recommendations.
Risks & safety
Vaxcyte maintains a strong financial position with substantial cash reserves, though the company faces typical biotech risks associated with clinical-stage development and cash burn. • Cash Position: $387.9 million in cash and short-term investments as of Q4 2024, down from over $1 billion in Q3 2024, providing multiple years of runway at current burn rates • Cash Burn: Free cash flow of -$475 million for full year 2024, with quarterly burn rates of approximately $140-190 million and expected to increase substantially in 2025 • Debt Level: Minimal debt with debt-to-equity ratio of 0.022, indicating low financial leverage and solvency risk • Current Ratio: Exceptionally strong at 12.8x, indicating excellent short-term liquidity • Valuation Metrics: Trading at 3.0x price-to-book ratio, which is reasonable for a clinical-stage biotech with substantial cash and intellectual property assets • Other Considerations: The company has demonstrated ability to raise capital (raised over $1.3 billion in recent years) and has substantial manufacturing commitments ($300-350 million) that represent both investment opportunity and financial obligation. Clinical trial risks remain the primary concern, as failure in Phase 2/3 trials could significantly impact valuation and require additional financing.
Recent development
Over the past few years, Vaxcyte has made significant strategic progress in advancing its pneumococcal vaccine portfolio and establishing commercial-scale manufacturing capabilities. The company's most notable achievement was receiving FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation for VAX-24 in adults, which provides accelerated regulatory pathways and validates the clinical potential of their approach. Clinical Development Milestones: VAX-24 has progressed through successful Phase 2 adult studies and completed enrollment in infant Phase 2 trials, with primary series data expected by Q1 2025. Simultaneously, the company initiated VAX-31 adult Phase 1/2 studies, with the goal of achieving approximately 95% coverage of invasive pneumococcal disease. The company is positioning both vaccine candidates for potential advancement, depending on clinical results. Manufacturing Scale-Up: Vaxcyte executed a major strategic partnership with Lonza to establish dedicated large-scale manufacturing facilities, representing a $300-350 million investment over 2-3.5 years. This facility build-out is on track for completion in early 2025 and represents a crucial step toward commercial readiness. The dedicated manufacturing approach aims to ensure supply security and capture more value in the commercial phase. Pipeline Expansion: Beyond pneumococcal vaccines, the company is advancing VAX-A1 (Group A Strep vaccine) toward clinical development, addressing another significant bacterial pathogen with limited current vaccine options. This expansion demonstrates the versatility of their cell-free protein synthesis platform across multiple bacterial targets. Commercial Preparation: The company established a public affairs function to engage with policymakers, health stakeholders, and advisory committees like ACIP, recognizing that successful vaccine commercialization requires not just regulatory approval but also inclusion in immunization guidelines and favorable reimbursement policies.
PCVX company profile · for informational purposes only — not investment advice.
Track PCVX with Drillr
SEC filings, earnings calls, insider activity, alt-data signals — all queryable through Drillr's AI terminal and MCP API.
Try Drillr for free