Pfizer's CEO cashed out 60% of his stock on the same day the company unveiled the results of its COVID-19 vaccine trial

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla.

AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais

• Pfizer chief executive Albert Bourla sold 62% of his stock in the company on the same day the drugmaker announced the results of its COVID-19 vaccine trial.
• Bourla sold $5.6 million in stock on Monday as part of a predetermined trading plan adopted on August 19.
• His stock sale was carried out at $41.94 a share. The 52-week-high for Pfizer stock is $41.99, which means the CEO cashed out his shares close to their highest this year.
• Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech are the first to post positive results from pivotal COVID-19 vaccine trials.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

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Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla sold 62% of his stock on the same day the company announced its experimental COVID-19 vaccine succeeded in clinical trials.

The announcement sent Pfizer's shares soaring almost 15% on the day.

Bourla sold 132,508 shares at an average price of $41.94 per share, or $5.6 million, according to filings registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The 52-week-high for Pfizer's stock is $41.99, meaning Bourla sold his stock at almost its highest value in the past year. 

His stock sale was carried out through a routine Rule 10b5-1, a predetermined trading plan that allows company staff to sell their stocks in line with insider trading laws. Bourla's sale was part of a pre-set plan adopted on August 19, the filing showed. He continues to own 81,812 Pfizer shares.

Pfizer did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment. 

Read More: Biotech execs hunting for COVID-19 vaccines and treatments have raked in more than $1 billion by selling company stock this year. Here are the 27 leaders who've cashed in the most.

On Monday, Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech said their COVID-19 vaccine was found to be over 90% effective in preventing illness, based on 94 observed cases. The pharma firms are the first to report positive results from pivotal COVID-19 vaccine trials.

Pfizer is already working on a workaround powder-form vaccine to address the current one's biggest limitation: having to be stored at extremely low temperatures.

The vaccine, which involves two doses administered three weeks apart, won't be distributed immediately, as it still needs to be evaluated and approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

Read More: We just got our first evidence that a coronavirus vaccine works. Here's everything we know about the race for a vaccine and when you might be able to get a shot.

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