Increased competition???? There has been Increased competition since the very first day of vaccine trials. Do you have any idea how many hundreds of companies are working on a vaccine throughout the world....
I think its the fact that so many companies are very close opposed to just a bunch of companies “ working on a vaccine”. The recent data shows MRNA doesnt appear to have the big head start first thought.
It's has always been unlikely that Moderna, a company that has never produced any vaccine, would beat experienced pharma/biotech companies like Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Regeneron in the vaccine race.
Based on studies and trials, Moderna was the closest to approval. That may no longer be the case and if it is, it wont be by much.