Pfizer Inc. (PFE) saw its stock rise by 2.07% to close at $25.65 on November 22, 2024, following the announcement of a strategic collaboration with Zai Lab to commercialize XACDURO, a new antibacterial drug, in mainland China. This partnership, which grants Pfizer exclusive rights to commercialize the drug, is expected to enhance patient access to XACDURO, a treatment for carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, and is set to run until November 2028. The news of this collaboration likely fueled investor optimism, contributing to the stock's upward movement from its opening price of $25.18 to a high of $25.75 during the trading session.
The trading volume for Pfizer was slightly above average at 37,322,977 shares, indicating heightened investor interest. Additionally, there was a notable increase in call options trading, with 202,219 call options purchased, marking a 24% rise compared to typical volumes. This surge in options activity suggests that investors are speculating on further price increases, possibly driven by the potential market expansion in China through the Zai Lab partnership.