Moderna Shares Soar on Breakthrough Cancer Treatment Results

Moderna's shares surged over 120% to $140.12 on August 19 after the biotech company reported promising results from a study of an experimental mRNA cancer treatment.

The treatment, developed in collaboration with Merck, uses an mRNA-based cancer vaccine called intismeran, which is tailored to individual patients based on unique mutations within their tumors.

In the current study, patients who received the combination treatment of intismeran and Keytruda (Merck's immunotherapy drug) lived longer without their cancer returning or metastasizing than those who received Keytruda alone.

The companies did not disclose how long patients survived without their cancer returning but plan to present the study results at an upcoming international medical meeting.