Moderna stock news
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Moderna and Merck's mRNA cancer vaccine cut melanoma recurrence in a late-stage trial, sending Moderna stock up over 10%. The result marks the first Phase 3 success for a cancer.
Background
Moderna, known for its COVID-19 vaccine, has been diversifying into other mRNA-based therapies. The company's stock had risen 126% over the past year, partly on hopes for its pipeline. The FDA also recently accepted its revised flu vaccine application for review. The melanoma vaccine trial result is a key catalyst, as analysts had called it a make-or-break event for the stock.
How it unfolded
- Aug 13, 2026FDA accepts Moderna's revised flu vaccine application for review, setting a PDUFA goal date of Aug 5, 2026.
- Aug 17, 2026Simply Wall St notes Moderna's 126% return over the past year and flags its high P/S ratio of 11.3x versus industry average of 10.9x.
- Aug 18, 2026Merck & Co. discloses a new position in Moderna, while Moderna's president Stephen Hoge sells 53,336 shares at $51.37.
- Aug 19, 2026Moderna and Merck announce that their mRNA cancer vaccine met key goals in a Phase 3 melanoma trial, reducing recurrence in over 1,100 patients. Moderna stock jumps over 10%.
Who’s saying what
- Analysts
- Leerink Partners' Mani Foroohar called the Phase 3 results a make-or-break event for Moderna's stock.
- Caution
- Simply Wall St warns that Moderna's valuation already reflects high expectations, with a wide gap between current P/S and model fair value.
Still unverified
The exact efficacy data (e.g., hazard ratio) from the melanoma trial has not been disclosed in the retrieved material.