Moderna Stock Soars as Cancer Vaccine Trial Results Spark Hopes

Moderna's stock has seen significant gains following the release of positive results from a late-stage trial of an experimental mRNA-based vaccine for advanced skin cancer. The Phase 3 trial, which evaluated Moderna's intismeran in combination with Merck's Keytruda (pembrolizumab), met its primary goal of recurrence-free survival.

Recurrence-free survival measures the amount of time a cancer patient goes without signs of a return of the illness after treatment. The trial, led by Professor Georgina Long, saw Moderna's shares surge more than 80% in morning trading while Merck's rose nearly 9%. This significant increase has pushed Moderna's shares to their highest price in about two years.

The companies plan to share the data with regulators but have not specified when. The vaccine combination showed promise in treating advanced skin cancer, with Professor Long commenting that 'Today's results represent a landmark moment for adjuvant melanoma treatment.'