Moderna's mRNA Cancer Vaccine Soars After Positive Phase-3 Results

Moderna's share price has skyrocketed since announcing positive Phase-3 results for its mRNA cancer vaccine, intismeran autogene, combined with Merck's Keytruda. The therapy hit both primary and secondary endpoints in patients with completely resected stage IIB-IV melanoma.

The combination resulted in a 177 percent intraday surge on Wednesday, followed by a seven-day gain of 127 percent and an annualized volatility reading of 516 percent.

Moderna's mRNA platform has been viewed primarily as a COVID-19 vaccine maker with a shrinking revenue base. However, the melanoma data suggests the technology has legs in oncology, allowing Moderna to shed its infectious-disease dependency and ease lingering concerns about its capital position.

The company is already testing the combination in bladder and kidney cancer, with earlier-stage programs in pancreatic and gastric cancer. Additional clinical readouts across other tumor types are expected within the next two years.