1 hr. ago
Updated Sept 03, 2026, 12:47 pm EDT / Original Sept 03, 2026, 11:10 am EDT
Moderna
MRNA
-2.23%
has received its second Sell rating on Wall Street, but the downgrade has little to do with the drugmaker’s commercial potential or pipeline prospects.
MRNA
-2.23%
Copyright ©2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
#sept #moderna #sell #street
Moderna
MRNA
-2.23%
has received its second Sell rating on Wall Street, but the downgrade has little to do with the drugmaker’s commercial potential or pipeline prospects.
MRNA
-2.23%
Copyright ©2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
#sept #moderna #sell #street
16 hours ago
During the August 31 episode of Mad Money, Jim Cramer addressed shifting market dynamics, highlighting how the fallout from heavily crowded hedge fund positions was finally unwinding. Turning his attention to a heavily shorted stock on Wall Street, Cramer pointed to Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA) and explained why skeptics were forced to rethink their thesis. He stated:
Now, I don't want to say that Situational Awareness, again that's the hedge fund, has disappeared. The fund still has some ******* ets. Still, the fallout from its collapse does finally seem to be unwinding. Still, when you look at the 10 best and worst performers for the month, they're stark in their themes that include the unwind of the Situational positions. Let's go over the winners first. First, let's start with a heavily shorted stock known as Moderna. Yes, there was a huge bet being made against these guys. Skeptics believed that its technology would never produce the breakthroughs that the bulls expected and were initially promised when the company came public. But this month, that's exactly what we got. See, working with Merck, Moderna's developed a vaccine for those who have beaten melanoma once. Now, this, my friends, is miraculous. So, it got a miraculous welcome. Do you know what? I think this could still have a huge potential to go higher.
The basis of Moderna, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:MRNA) recent transition is its co-development partnership with Merck. Together, the companies advanced an mRNA-based personalized cancer vaccine designed to prevent melanoma recurrence in patients who have already beaten the disease once.
Beyond oncology, Moderna has worked to diversify its commercial footprint. Management has navigated a sharp post-pandemic revenue drop by tightening operational controls, tightening operating costs, and maintaining a solid cash cushion of $6.9 billion.
Despite the enthusiasm surrounding its cancer pipeline, Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA) remains a high-risk bet. The company continues to post substantial net losses, reporting a quarterly net loss of nearly $0.8 billion, along with heavy research expenditures needed to push its pipeline forward.
#NASDAQ #heavily #fund
Now, I don't want to say that Situational Awareness, again that's the hedge fund, has disappeared. The fund still has some ******* ets. Still, the fallout from its collapse does finally seem to be unwinding. Still, when you look at the 10 best and worst performers for the month, they're stark in their themes that include the unwind of the Situational positions. Let's go over the winners first. First, let's start with a heavily shorted stock known as Moderna. Yes, there was a huge bet being made against these guys. Skeptics believed that its technology would never produce the breakthroughs that the bulls expected and were initially promised when the company came public. But this month, that's exactly what we got. See, working with Merck, Moderna's developed a vaccine for those who have beaten melanoma once. Now, this, my friends, is miraculous. So, it got a miraculous welcome. Do you know what? I think this could still have a huge potential to go higher.
The basis of Moderna, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:MRNA) recent transition is its co-development partnership with Merck. Together, the companies advanced an mRNA-based personalized cancer vaccine designed to prevent melanoma recurrence in patients who have already beaten the disease once.
Beyond oncology, Moderna has worked to diversify its commercial footprint. Management has navigated a sharp post-pandemic revenue drop by tightening operational controls, tightening operating costs, and maintaining a solid cash cushion of $6.9 billion.
Despite the enthusiasm surrounding its cancer pipeline, Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA) remains a high-risk bet. The company continues to post substantial net losses, reporting a quarterly net loss of nearly $0.8 billion, along with heavy research expenditures needed to push its pipeline forward.
#NASDAQ #heavily #fund
24 hours ago
The recent breakout of Moderna reminded investors that AI stocks aren't the only destination to make money. Healthcare and biotech stocks offer promising long-term opportunities if chosen wisely.
We ran an ***** ysis based on Insider Monkey's proprietary database of over 900 hedge funds to see which healthcare stocks trading under $20 billionaire-led funds were holding at the end of the second quarter.
A total of 23 billionaire-led funds held stakes in Viatris (NASDAQ: VTRS) at the end of the second quarter, down slightly from 24 funds in the first quarter. The stock trades around $16 as of Sept. 1.
BioCryst (NASDAQ: BCRX) had 22 billionaire-led funds holding stakes at the end of the second quarter, up from 20 funds in the first quarter. The stock trades near $10 as of the start of September.
In this article, we will focus on VTRS. The stock is up about 33% so far this year.
#quarter #stocks #billionaire #vtrs
We ran an ***** ysis based on Insider Monkey's proprietary database of over 900 hedge funds to see which healthcare stocks trading under $20 billionaire-led funds were holding at the end of the second quarter.
A total of 23 billionaire-led funds held stakes in Viatris (NASDAQ: VTRS) at the end of the second quarter, down slightly from 24 funds in the first quarter. The stock trades around $16 as of Sept. 1.
BioCryst (NASDAQ: BCRX) had 22 billionaire-led funds holding stakes at the end of the second quarter, up from 20 funds in the first quarter. The stock trades near $10 as of the start of September.
In this article, we will focus on VTRS. The stock is up about 33% so far this year.
#quarter #stocks #billionaire #vtrs
3 days ago
August turned out to be a pretty good month for S&P 500 investors. And some stocks wound up having a great month.
If you invested $100,000 in January in the top-performing stock in the S&P 500 at the time and reinvested that in each month's top performer, including vaccine maker Moderna (MRNA) in August, you'd have $12.7 million now, says an Investor's Business Daily **** ysis of data from S&P Global Market Intelligence and MarketSurge.
That's an impressive eight-month gain of 12,600%. It's quite a feat given the S&P 500 itself is up just 12.7% so far this year. And the same $100,000 invested in the S&P 500 would be worth just $112,700 now. The S&P 500 rose 3% in August, making it the third-best month this year.
Hindsight is 20-20. And, clearly, few if any investors could have picked the top stock in each of the past eight months, as it's not a repeatable strategy. But the staggering numbers this year remind investors that amazing gains can be scooped up by diligent investors who keep buy lists handy for big leaders when the S&P 500 starts to hit highs.
In fact, the S&P 500 offered many ways to make money in August. More than 278 stocks in the index rose during August. And of those, nine stocks jumped more than 30% in just one month.
#stocks #invested
If you invested $100,000 in January in the top-performing stock in the S&P 500 at the time and reinvested that in each month's top performer, including vaccine maker Moderna (MRNA) in August, you'd have $12.7 million now, says an Investor's Business Daily **** ysis of data from S&P Global Market Intelligence and MarketSurge.
That's an impressive eight-month gain of 12,600%. It's quite a feat given the S&P 500 itself is up just 12.7% so far this year. And the same $100,000 invested in the S&P 500 would be worth just $112,700 now. The S&P 500 rose 3% in August, making it the third-best month this year.
Hindsight is 20-20. And, clearly, few if any investors could have picked the top stock in each of the past eight months, as it's not a repeatable strategy. But the staggering numbers this year remind investors that amazing gains can be scooped up by diligent investors who keep buy lists handy for big leaders when the S&P 500 starts to hit highs.
In fact, the S&P 500 offered many ways to make money in August. More than 278 stocks in the index rose during August. And of those, nine stocks jumped more than 30% in just one month.
#stocks #invested
4 days ago
Moderna led the S&P 500 in August after reporting promising results from a late-stage trial of a personalized mRNA cancer vaccine it co-developed with Merck, according to CNBC. The data challenged years of skepticism about whether the company's mRNA technology could produce another major breakthrough following the decline of its Covid-19 vaccine business. "This is miraculous, so it got a miraculous welcome," CNBC's Jim Cramer said Monday.
Enterprise software stocks accounted for many of the index's other top performers. Palantir, Veeva Systems, Salesforce, and ServiceNow had each come under sustained selling pressure as investors grew skeptical that traditional software models could remain competitive against the backdrop of accelerating AI development, according to the outlet. Those declines were compounded by large short positions held by Situational Awareness, a leveraged hedge fund that had bet against software companies based on that thesis. When the fund was forced to unwind its trades in late July, those shorts became a tailwind for the stocks it had targeted. "As August comes to a grinding end, it's hard to believe that the reverberations of a hedge fund implosion could color so much of the month's action," Cramer said.
Situational Awareness, which was run by Leopold Aschenbrenner and peaked at $45 billion in **** ets at the start of July, lost roughly $35 billion after margin calls from prime brokers Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, and JPMorgan Chase forced a distressed sale of its publicly traded holdings to Ken Griffin's Citadel. The fund had used as much as 400% leverage and held large short positions in software names including Adobe alongside bullish bets on AI infrastructure stocks.
Among individual software stocks, Salesforce bounced back after better-than-expected quarterly results quieted fears of what Cramer called a "SaaSpocalypse," while ServiceNow gained ground after showing investors that AI could be folded into its platform without disrupting existing operations. Veeva Systems climbed in tandem with the wider software sector after the anticipated AI threat to its life sciences niche failed to materialize in any meaningful way. Gartner also joined the recovery, as worries that large AI models would erode the market for its research and advisory services turned out not to be borne out by the company's actual results.
Outside software, Newmont benefited from a recovery in gold prices, while Coinbase climbed as cryptocurrencies rebounded amid concerns about U.S. debt and government spending. Super Micro Computer and Sandisk also surged on strong demand for memory used in AI data centers.
#cramer
Enterprise software stocks accounted for many of the index's other top performers. Palantir, Veeva Systems, Salesforce, and ServiceNow had each come under sustained selling pressure as investors grew skeptical that traditional software models could remain competitive against the backdrop of accelerating AI development, according to the outlet. Those declines were compounded by large short positions held by Situational Awareness, a leveraged hedge fund that had bet against software companies based on that thesis. When the fund was forced to unwind its trades in late July, those shorts became a tailwind for the stocks it had targeted. "As August comes to a grinding end, it's hard to believe that the reverberations of a hedge fund implosion could color so much of the month's action," Cramer said.
Situational Awareness, which was run by Leopold Aschenbrenner and peaked at $45 billion in **** ets at the start of July, lost roughly $35 billion after margin calls from prime brokers Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, and JPMorgan Chase forced a distressed sale of its publicly traded holdings to Ken Griffin's Citadel. The fund had used as much as 400% leverage and held large short positions in software names including Adobe alongside bullish bets on AI infrastructure stocks.
Among individual software stocks, Salesforce bounced back after better-than-expected quarterly results quieted fears of what Cramer called a "SaaSpocalypse," while ServiceNow gained ground after showing investors that AI could be folded into its platform without disrupting existing operations. Veeva Systems climbed in tandem with the wider software sector after the anticipated AI threat to its life sciences niche failed to materialize in any meaningful way. Gartner also joined the recovery, as worries that large AI models would erode the market for its research and advisory services turned out not to be borne out by the company's actual results.
Outside software, Newmont benefited from a recovery in gold prices, while Coinbase climbed as cryptocurrencies rebounded amid concerns about U.S. debt and government spending. Super Micro Computer and Sandisk also surged on strong demand for memory used in AI data centers.
#cramer
6 days ago
On the August 26 episode of Mad Money, a caller mentioned that they had purchased 1,000 shares of Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA) at $54 a couple of weeks prior, watched the price go up to $150, and asked what they should do. Jim Cramer replied:
Here's what I would do: I think that you have to take a little bit off. But I have also, because of my daughter who had melanoma and fortunately beat it, done a huge amount of work on the vaccine, and I got to tell you, I would hold on to this stock because I think the vaccine is very for real.
Moderna shares surged 177% on August 19 after the company and Merck & Co. announced that their personalized mRNA cancer vaccine, intismeran autogene, met the primary and key secondary endpoints in a Phase 3 melanoma trial involving 1,137 patients. The result gives Moderna its strongest late-stage evidence yet that its mRNA platform can work as a therapeutic cancer treatment. However, the detailed Phase 3 data have not been released, and investors should not confuse the new results with the 49% reduction in recurrence or death and 59% reduction in distant metastasis or death reported in the earlier Phase 2b study.
The clinical breakthrough arrived well before Moderna, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:MRNA) financial turnaround. The company generated $145 million of second-quarter 2026 revenue and reported a $782 million GAAP net loss, while continuing to target cash breakeven in 2028. It ended June with $6.9 billion of cash, cash equivalents, and investments, although it subsequently paid $950 million related to a litigation settlement.
The bear argument is that Moderna, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:MRNA) stock has repriced faster than the fundamental business has been proven. Its market value increased by tens of billions of dollars following the announcement of a trial whose detailed Phase 3 data remain outstanding. Regulatory approval is still required, while personalized cancer vaccines must overcome significant manufacturing and logistical challenges. Success in melanoma also does not guarantee comparable results in lung, bladder, kidney, or other cancers.
#mrna
Here's what I would do: I think that you have to take a little bit off. But I have also, because of my daughter who had melanoma and fortunately beat it, done a huge amount of work on the vaccine, and I got to tell you, I would hold on to this stock because I think the vaccine is very for real.
Moderna shares surged 177% on August 19 after the company and Merck & Co. announced that their personalized mRNA cancer vaccine, intismeran autogene, met the primary and key secondary endpoints in a Phase 3 melanoma trial involving 1,137 patients. The result gives Moderna its strongest late-stage evidence yet that its mRNA platform can work as a therapeutic cancer treatment. However, the detailed Phase 3 data have not been released, and investors should not confuse the new results with the 49% reduction in recurrence or death and 59% reduction in distant metastasis or death reported in the earlier Phase 2b study.
The clinical breakthrough arrived well before Moderna, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:MRNA) financial turnaround. The company generated $145 million of second-quarter 2026 revenue and reported a $782 million GAAP net loss, while continuing to target cash breakeven in 2028. It ended June with $6.9 billion of cash, cash equivalents, and investments, although it subsequently paid $950 million related to a litigation settlement.
The bear argument is that Moderna, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:MRNA) stock has repriced faster than the fundamental business has been proven. Its market value increased by tens of billions of dollars following the announcement of a trial whose detailed Phase 3 data remain outstanding. Regulatory approval is still required, while personalized cancer vaccines must overcome significant manufacturing and logistical challenges. Success in melanoma also does not guarantee comparable results in lung, bladder, kidney, or other cancers.
#mrna
7 days ago
Tempus AI, Inc. (NASDAQ:TEM) rallied following a melanoma breakthrough reported by Moderna and Merck. The companies said their Phase 3 INTerpath-001 trial met its recurrence-free survival endpoint for the personalized cancer therapy intismeran autogene, also known as V940, combined with Keytruda. Detailed trial data remain pending. The read-through came from Personalis, which has supported the V940 clinical-development program since its inception. Tempus agreed in July to a pending acquisition of Personalis at a $1.5 billion enterprise value, net of Tempus's existing stake. The question for Tempus AI, Inc. (NASDAQ:TEM) is whether the result validates the acquisition or merely confirms that one Personalis platform is strategically relevant to personalized cancer therapy.
Personalis uses ImmunoID NeXT to sequence tumor information for personalized vaccine development. That technology is distinct from NeXT Personal, the company's tumor-informed molecular residual disease test and the central strategic target of the acquisition. For Tempus AI, Inc. (NASDAQ:TEM), the clinical result validates Personalis's sequencing capabilities without establishing the economics of either product.
Tempus AI, Inc. (NASDAQ:TEM) is acquiring a company that has supported the V940 program from its beginning. A successful Phase 3 endpoint could strengthen Personalis's credibility with biopharma customers and create additional sequencing opportunities as drugmakers pursue individualized therapies across more tumor types.
The acquisition also reaches beyond vaccine sequencing. Tempus AI, Inc. (NASDAQ:TEM) has commercialized NeXT Personal since 2023. The MRD test searches for small traces of circulating tumor DNA after treatment, helping clinicians monitor response and identify possible recurrence before it becomes visible through conventional imaging.
Tempus AI, Inc. (NASDAQ:TEM) reported 9,000 total MRD tests in the second quarter, up from 6,500 sequentially. Personalis generated finalized quarterly revenue of $22.357 million and delivered 10,384 clinical tests, with volume rising 33% sequentially. NeXT Personal also has Medicare coverage in three indications, giving the pending transaction a commercial foundation independent of V940.
#v940 #acquisition #tumor
Personalis uses ImmunoID NeXT to sequence tumor information for personalized vaccine development. That technology is distinct from NeXT Personal, the company's tumor-informed molecular residual disease test and the central strategic target of the acquisition. For Tempus AI, Inc. (NASDAQ:TEM), the clinical result validates Personalis's sequencing capabilities without establishing the economics of either product.
Tempus AI, Inc. (NASDAQ:TEM) is acquiring a company that has supported the V940 program from its beginning. A successful Phase 3 endpoint could strengthen Personalis's credibility with biopharma customers and create additional sequencing opportunities as drugmakers pursue individualized therapies across more tumor types.
The acquisition also reaches beyond vaccine sequencing. Tempus AI, Inc. (NASDAQ:TEM) has commercialized NeXT Personal since 2023. The MRD test searches for small traces of circulating tumor DNA after treatment, helping clinicians monitor response and identify possible recurrence before it becomes visible through conventional imaging.
Tempus AI, Inc. (NASDAQ:TEM) reported 9,000 total MRD tests in the second quarter, up from 6,500 sequentially. Personalis generated finalized quarterly revenue of $22.357 million and delivered 10,384 clinical tests, with volume rising 33% sequentially. NeXT Personal also has Medicare coverage in three indications, giving the pending transaction a commercial foundation independent of V940.
#v940 #acquisition #tumor
7 days ago
BioNTech SE (NASDAQ:BNTX) rallied following the first positive interim Phase 3 topline result for a personalized mRNA cancer therapy. Moderna and Merck said intismeran, combined with Keytruda, significantly improved recurrence-free and distant metastasis-free survival in patients with surgically removed high-risk melanoma. The result lifted other mRNA developers because it provided the strongest evidence yet that the technology can work against cancer in a large late-stage trial. For BioNTech SE (NASDAQ:BNTX), however, the rally raises a harder question: does validation of the therapeutic class meaningfully improve the odds for its own candidates, or has the market moved ahead of company-specific evidence?
The distinction matters. Moderna's intismeran is individually designed around mutations found in each patient's tumor. BioNTech SE (NASDAQ:BNTX) is awaiting an interim ******* ysis from the Phase 3 portion of AHEAD-MERIT, which tests BNT113 with pembrolizumab in first-line unresectable recurrent or metastatic HPV16-positive, PD-L1-positive head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma. BNT113 is an off-the-shelf FixVac therapy encoding the HPV16 E6 and E7 oncoproteins. Different antigens, manufacturing approaches, cancer types and treatment settings prevent Moderna's result from functioning as a direct clinical read-through.
Still, BioNTech SE (NASDAQ:BNTX) has more than one attempt at building an oncology franchise. The company has 14 ongoing pivotal trials across mRNA immunotherapies, immunomodulators and antibody-drug conjugates. It expects three late-stage readouts during 2026, including the BNT113 interim ******* ysis, and ended June with €16.6 billion in cash, cash equivalents and security investments.
The bull case for BioNTech SE (NASDAQ:BNTX) is that Moderna and Merck have reduced skepticism around the broader platform. Their trial enrolled 1,137 patients and met its primary endpoint of recurrence-free survival and a secondary endpoint of distant metastasis-free survival, with no new safety concerns reported. The result shows that an mRNA therapy can add meaningful benefit to a checkpoint inhibitor in Phase 3.
BioNTech also has a personalized program that more closely resembles intismeran. Autogene cevumeran, partnered with Genentech, is being studied in randomized Phase 2 trials in pancreatic and colorectal cancer. Meanwhile, BNT113 has FDA Fast Track designation and could provide BioNTech's own pivotal mRNA evidence. The company's cash position gives it room to fund these programs and absorb failures elsewhere in the portfolio.
#biontech
The distinction matters. Moderna's intismeran is individually designed around mutations found in each patient's tumor. BioNTech SE (NASDAQ:BNTX) is awaiting an interim ******* ysis from the Phase 3 portion of AHEAD-MERIT, which tests BNT113 with pembrolizumab in first-line unresectable recurrent or metastatic HPV16-positive, PD-L1-positive head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma. BNT113 is an off-the-shelf FixVac therapy encoding the HPV16 E6 and E7 oncoproteins. Different antigens, manufacturing approaches, cancer types and treatment settings prevent Moderna's result from functioning as a direct clinical read-through.
Still, BioNTech SE (NASDAQ:BNTX) has more than one attempt at building an oncology franchise. The company has 14 ongoing pivotal trials across mRNA immunotherapies, immunomodulators and antibody-drug conjugates. It expects three late-stage readouts during 2026, including the BNT113 interim ******* ysis, and ended June with €16.6 billion in cash, cash equivalents and security investments.
The bull case for BioNTech SE (NASDAQ:BNTX) is that Moderna and Merck have reduced skepticism around the broader platform. Their trial enrolled 1,137 patients and met its primary endpoint of recurrence-free survival and a secondary endpoint of distant metastasis-free survival, with no new safety concerns reported. The result shows that an mRNA therapy can add meaningful benefit to a checkpoint inhibitor in Phase 3.
BioNTech also has a personalized program that more closely resembles intismeran. Autogene cevumeran, partnered with Genentech, is being studied in randomized Phase 2 trials in pancreatic and colorectal cancer. Meanwhile, BNT113 has FDA Fast Track designation and could provide BioNTech's own pivotal mRNA evidence. The company's cash position gives it room to fund these programs and absorb failures elsewhere in the portfolio.
#biontech
7 days ago
On August 19, 2026, Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA) and Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) said that their personalized mRNA cancer vaccine, combined with Merck's Keytruda, met its main goals in a first-ever Phase 3 trial for melanoma. The news sent Moderna shares up as much as 177%, adding $44 billion to its market value, while Merck shares rose more than 12% to an all-time high.
This is the first personalized cancer vaccine to succeed at the late-stage trial level, a milestone Moderna has pursued for years after its Covid-19 vaccine business faded. The stock became the most shorted in the S&P 500.
Does this trial genuinely validate personalized cancer vaccines as a new class of medicine, or is the market's reaction running ahead of data the companies haven't even fully released yet?
Breakthrough Results vs. Unreleased Data: The Moderna Debate
The combination, involving Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA)'s vaccine intismeran autogene and Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK)'s Keytruda, extended the time patients lived without their melanoma returning. It reduced the risk of cancer spreading, building on earlier data showing a 49% reduction in recurrence or death risk and a 59% reduction in distant metastasis risk compared with Keytruda alone. Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel called it validation of "an entirely new class of medicine." TD Cowen ******* ysts called it "a landmark moment" and expect regulatory approval as soon as next year. Even after the surge, Moderna trades at less than a third of its 2021 peak. Rezilient Health's Dr. Danish Nagda argued the platform remains undervalued given the potential to extend the approach to other cancers.
#vaccine #personalized #trial
This is the first personalized cancer vaccine to succeed at the late-stage trial level, a milestone Moderna has pursued for years after its Covid-19 vaccine business faded. The stock became the most shorted in the S&P 500.
Does this trial genuinely validate personalized cancer vaccines as a new class of medicine, or is the market's reaction running ahead of data the companies haven't even fully released yet?
Breakthrough Results vs. Unreleased Data: The Moderna Debate
The combination, involving Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA)'s vaccine intismeran autogene and Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK)'s Keytruda, extended the time patients lived without their melanoma returning. It reduced the risk of cancer spreading, building on earlier data showing a 49% reduction in recurrence or death risk and a 59% reduction in distant metastasis risk compared with Keytruda alone. Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel called it validation of "an entirely new class of medicine." TD Cowen ******* ysts called it "a landmark moment" and expect regulatory approval as soon as next year. Even after the surge, Moderna trades at less than a third of its 2021 peak. Rezilient Health's Dr. Danish Nagda argued the platform remains undervalued given the potential to extend the approach to other cancers.
#vaccine #personalized #trial
7 days ago
On August 19, 2026, Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA) and Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) said their personalized melanoma vaccine, intismeran, combined with Merck's Keytruda, met its goals in a Phase 3 trial of 1,137 patients. It reduced the risk of cancer recurrence and spread compared with Keytruda alone, Reuters reported.
It is the first positive late-stage trial result for an mRNA cancer vaccine. Merck's Jane Healy called the result a "clinically meaningful improvement," and said it was well tolerated, CNBC reported.
Both companies' shares rose on the news. Full data will be presented at an upcoming medical meeting alongside regulatory filing discussions. The companies are already running additional trials of the same vaccine-Keytruda combination in lung, bladder, kidney, pancreatic, and stomach cancers.
For Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA), this is proof that its mRNA platform works beyond vaccines for infectious disease. A positive Phase 3 readout validates years of personalized cancer vaccine development. It gives Moderna a genuine second growth pillar alongside its COVID business, one built on technology the company already knows how to manufacture and scale.
For Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK), the result extends Keytruda's competitive life at a critical moment. Pairing Keytruda with a personalized vaccine gives Merck a differentiated, harder-to-copy combination therapy just as Keytruda itself approaches patent expiration later this decade. Hence, it protects franchise revenue through a next-generation product rather than the drug alone.
#result #NYSE
It is the first positive late-stage trial result for an mRNA cancer vaccine. Merck's Jane Healy called the result a "clinically meaningful improvement," and said it was well tolerated, CNBC reported.
Both companies' shares rose on the news. Full data will be presented at an upcoming medical meeting alongside regulatory filing discussions. The companies are already running additional trials of the same vaccine-Keytruda combination in lung, bladder, kidney, pancreatic, and stomach cancers.
For Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA), this is proof that its mRNA platform works beyond vaccines for infectious disease. A positive Phase 3 readout validates years of personalized cancer vaccine development. It gives Moderna a genuine second growth pillar alongside its COVID business, one built on technology the company already knows how to manufacture and scale.
For Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK), the result extends Keytruda's competitive life at a critical moment. Pairing Keytruda with a personalized vaccine gives Merck a differentiated, harder-to-copy combination therapy just as Keytruda itself approaches patent expiration later this decade. Hence, it protects franchise revenue through a next-generation product rather than the drug alone.
#result #NYSE
8 days ago
Drug stock Novavax Inc (NASDAQ:NVAX) is trading 2.8% lower at $9.18 this afternoon, pulling back from yesterday's surge to six-week highs. Today's drop has put the equity in a deficit for the quarter, though NVAX shares remain 36% higher year-to-date. The stock recently enjoyed a lift after trial results for its skin cancer vaccine with Moderna (MRNA) showed positive results.
Options traders are betting on the downfall of NVAX however, with 29,000 puts across the tape so far. This is 32 times the average daily rate, with the most active contracts being the weekly January 21, 2028 10-strike put and January 15, 2027 10-strike put.
In the near term, options traders are taking a different stance. This is per NVAX's Shaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) of 0.13, which sits in the 10th percentile of its annual range. Should this bullish sentiment begin to unwind, it could trigger more headwinds for the shares.
Short interest has been on the rise, up 4.2% over the most recent reporting period, now accounting for 29% of the stock's available float. At the stock's average pace of trading, it would take short sellers over two weeks to buy back their bearish bets.
Plus, options are looking affordable, per NVAX's Schaeffer's Volatility Index (SVI) of 80%, which ranks in the 27th percentile of its annual range.
#short
Options traders are betting on the downfall of NVAX however, with 29,000 puts across the tape so far. This is 32 times the average daily rate, with the most active contracts being the weekly January 21, 2028 10-strike put and January 15, 2027 10-strike put.
In the near term, options traders are taking a different stance. This is per NVAX's Shaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) of 0.13, which sits in the 10th percentile of its annual range. Should this bullish sentiment begin to unwind, it could trigger more headwinds for the shares.
Short interest has been on the rise, up 4.2% over the most recent reporting period, now accounting for 29% of the stock's available float. At the stock's average pace of trading, it would take short sellers over two weeks to buy back their bearish bets.
Plus, options are looking affordable, per NVAX's Schaeffer's Volatility Index (SVI) of 80%, which ranks in the 27th percentile of its annual range.
#short
9 days ago
Moderna surged 11% while BioNTech gained just 2% on no catalyst, with MRNA's Reddit sentiment score of 88 flagging crowded retail positioning over fundamentals.
BioNTech trails XBI's 3% session gain and its 35% YTD return, while Moderna's 371% YTD run versus BNTX's 19% effectively ends the mRNA pair trade.
Act now: the ***** yst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Moderna didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
Two names built on the same platform have stopped moving together this morning. Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA) stock is up 11% to $154.15, a Tuesday morning session standing well apart from anything happening across the broader biotech sector. Meanwhile, BioNTech (NASDAQ:BNTX) stock is up 2% to $115.10, a much lighter session for a name that's traded as Moderna's mRNA partner for years.
For sector context, the SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (NYSEARCA:XBI) is up 3% to $168.45. That means BioNTech isn't only lagging Moderna today; it's trailing the sector fund that holds it. The comparison against the fund is what makes the gap inside the mRNA pair legible. Biotech is having a good session, and Moderna is having a different kind of session entirely, while BioNTech sits below the fund, making the split inside the mRNA pair even sharper than the headline figures alone would suggest.
#Biotech #pair #names
BioNTech trails XBI's 3% session gain and its 35% YTD return, while Moderna's 371% YTD run versus BNTX's 19% effectively ends the mRNA pair trade.
Act now: the ***** yst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Moderna didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
Two names built on the same platform have stopped moving together this morning. Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA) stock is up 11% to $154.15, a Tuesday morning session standing well apart from anything happening across the broader biotech sector. Meanwhile, BioNTech (NASDAQ:BNTX) stock is up 2% to $115.10, a much lighter session for a name that's traded as Moderna's mRNA partner for years.
For sector context, the SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (NYSEARCA:XBI) is up 3% to $168.45. That means BioNTech isn't only lagging Moderna today; it's trailing the sector fund that holds it. The comparison against the fund is what makes the gap inside the mRNA pair legible. Biotech is having a good session, and Moderna is having a different kind of session entirely, while BioNTech sits below the fund, making the split inside the mRNA pair even sharper than the headline figures alone would suggest.
#Biotech #pair #names
9 days ago
Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) jumped 12.6% to a record $152.20 on August 19 after a pivotal melanoma trial validated intismeran autogene, the individualized mRNA cancer therapy developed with Moderna. In the 1,137-patient Phase 3 INTerpath-001 study, intismeran plus Keytruda produced statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in recurrence-free survival and distant-metastasis-free survival compared with Keytruda alone. No new safety concerns emerged. Investors are now asking whether intismeran can turn Keytruda from a drug approaching a patent cliff into the foundation of a personalized-cancer platform.
That distinction matters because Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) generated $31.68 billion from Keytruda and Keytruda Qlex in 2025, nearly half of the company's sales. In the U.S., biosimilar competition could begin after Keytruda's primary compound patent expires in December 2028, although biosimilars have already entered some smaller international markets. A successful combination could support continued use of the franchise without removing the need for other growth engines.
The bullish case for Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) is that intismeran adds a personalized immune response to a checkpoint inhibitor already embedded across oncology. The treatment is designed from the unique mutations in each patient's tumor and encodes as many as 34 neoantigens, training the immune system to recognize tumor cells while Keytruda removes a brake on the immune response.
Earlier Phase 2b data showed a 49% reduction in the risk of recurrence or death and a 59% reduction in distant metastasis or death at five years. Phase 3 confirmation makes the approach more credible for Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) beyond melanoma. The company is also studying intismeran combinations in non-small cell lung, bladder and renal-cell cancers. Success across several tumor types could create a portfolio of Keytruda combinations rather than a single indication.
That would give Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) another lifecycle-management tool alongside Keytruda Qlex and newer oncology ***** ets. It also strengthens the argument that Keytruda can remain commercially relevant after standalone pembrolizumab faces lower-priced competition.
#NYSE #tumor #cancer
That distinction matters because Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) generated $31.68 billion from Keytruda and Keytruda Qlex in 2025, nearly half of the company's sales. In the U.S., biosimilar competition could begin after Keytruda's primary compound patent expires in December 2028, although biosimilars have already entered some smaller international markets. A successful combination could support continued use of the franchise without removing the need for other growth engines.
The bullish case for Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) is that intismeran adds a personalized immune response to a checkpoint inhibitor already embedded across oncology. The treatment is designed from the unique mutations in each patient's tumor and encodes as many as 34 neoantigens, training the immune system to recognize tumor cells while Keytruda removes a brake on the immune response.
Earlier Phase 2b data showed a 49% reduction in the risk of recurrence or death and a 59% reduction in distant metastasis or death at five years. Phase 3 confirmation makes the approach more credible for Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) beyond melanoma. The company is also studying intismeran combinations in non-small cell lung, bladder and renal-cell cancers. Success across several tumor types could create a portfolio of Keytruda combinations rather than a single indication.
That would give Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) another lifecycle-management tool alongside Keytruda Qlex and newer oncology ***** ets. It also strengthens the argument that Keytruda can remain commercially relevant after standalone pembrolizumab faces lower-priced competition.
#NYSE #tumor #cancer
9 days ago
The most talked about and market moving research calls around Wall Street are now in one place. Here are today's research calls that investors need to know, as compiled by The Fly.
Top 5 Upgrades:
Raymond James upgraded AMD (AMD) to Strong Buy from Outperform with a price target of $641, up from $565. The firm believes AMD offers the "strongest combination of direct earnings leverage" given its data center positioning and market share gains.
Wolfe Research upgraded Moderna (MRNA) to Peer Perform from Underperform without a price target. The firm says the positive melanoma trial de-risks the intismeran platform.
Wells Fargo upgraded Shift4 Payments (FOUR) to Overweight from Equal Weight with a price target of $59, up from $55. The firm sees an improved share setup post the Q2 report.
Morgan Stanley upgraded Dynatrace (DT) to Overweight from Equal Weight with a price target of $65, up from $58. The firm says the observability market is experiencing the healthiest demand since 2022 amid the strongest public cloud growth in several years.
#upgraded #target #market #equal
Top 5 Upgrades:
Raymond James upgraded AMD (AMD) to Strong Buy from Outperform with a price target of $641, up from $565. The firm believes AMD offers the "strongest combination of direct earnings leverage" given its data center positioning and market share gains.
Wolfe Research upgraded Moderna (MRNA) to Peer Perform from Underperform without a price target. The firm says the positive melanoma trial de-risks the intismeran platform.
Wells Fargo upgraded Shift4 Payments (FOUR) to Overweight from Equal Weight with a price target of $59, up from $55. The firm sees an improved share setup post the Q2 report.
Morgan Stanley upgraded Dynatrace (DT) to Overweight from Equal Weight with a price target of $65, up from $58. The firm says the observability market is experiencing the healthiest demand since 2022 amid the strongest public cloud growth in several years.
#upgraded #target #market #equal
9 days ago
Ricky Schroder is giving people the "ick" with his tribute to late co-star Dolly Parton.
The NYPD Blue alum, 56, and legendary country singer appeared in Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors in 2025, as well as its 2026 sequel, Dolly Parton's Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love. He played a version of her father in both TV movies.
Taking to social media on Tuesday, August 25 — following Parton's death at the age of 80 — Schroder shared a post honoring the icon. Alongside a photo of them together, he wrote, "I didnt agree with her advocating for Transgender & Covid Vaccine support…but Loved her anyway. Thank you for choosing me Dolly to be your Movie Daddy."
Parton was a vocal supporter of the LGBTQIA+ community, speaking out against North Carolina's anti-trans bathroom bill in 2016 by telling CNN, "I think everybody should be treated with respect. I hope that everybody gets a chance to be who and what they are."
The singer also donated $1 million to vaccine research amid the Covid pandemic. After helping to fund the Moderna vaccine, she filmed herself receiving it as well, sharing the footage to social media.
#vaccine #many #colors #Social
The NYPD Blue alum, 56, and legendary country singer appeared in Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors in 2025, as well as its 2026 sequel, Dolly Parton's Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love. He played a version of her father in both TV movies.
Taking to social media on Tuesday, August 25 — following Parton's death at the age of 80 — Schroder shared a post honoring the icon. Alongside a photo of them together, he wrote, "I didnt agree with her advocating for Transgender & Covid Vaccine support…but Loved her anyway. Thank you for choosing me Dolly to be your Movie Daddy."
Parton was a vocal supporter of the LGBTQIA+ community, speaking out against North Carolina's anti-trans bathroom bill in 2016 by telling CNN, "I think everybody should be treated with respect. I hope that everybody gets a chance to be who and what they are."
The singer also donated $1 million to vaccine research amid the Covid pandemic. After helping to fund the Moderna vaccine, she filmed herself receiving it as well, sharing the footage to social media.
#vaccine #many #colors #Social
10 days ago
Biotech stocks had already been gaining ground before this week's news. In June, the iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF (IBB) traded just 1.47% below its 52-week high after moving sideways since November.
Then, Moderna (MRNA) surged more than 176%, while Merck (MRK) gained over 12%, after their personalized mRNA cancer vaccine reduced melanoma recurrence in a late-stage trial. The INTerpath-001 study included 1,137 high-risk melanoma patients and delivered the first successful Phase 3 result for an individualized mRNA neoantigen therapy.
Soros Fund Management Opened a New Position in Nebius During Q2. What This Means for NBIS Stock.
Nvidia Earnings, Jackson Hole and Other Key Things to Watch this Week
Ahead of Nvidia Earnings, Here's What Barchart Data Says Comes Next for NVDA Stock
#week #Biotech #june #NASDAQ
Then, Moderna (MRNA) surged more than 176%, while Merck (MRK) gained over 12%, after their personalized mRNA cancer vaccine reduced melanoma recurrence in a late-stage trial. The INTerpath-001 study included 1,137 high-risk melanoma patients and delivered the first successful Phase 3 result for an individualized mRNA neoantigen therapy.
Soros Fund Management Opened a New Position in Nebius During Q2. What This Means for NBIS Stock.
Nvidia Earnings, Jackson Hole and Other Key Things to Watch this Week
Ahead of Nvidia Earnings, Here's What Barchart Data Says Comes Next for NVDA Stock
#week #Biotech #june #NASDAQ
11 days ago
Tempus AI (NASDAQ: TEM) stock posted massive gains this week despite valuation pressures across the broader market. The healthcare artificial intelligence (AI) specialist's share price climbed 39.5% over its close at the end of the previous week's trading. Meanwhile, the S&P 500's level declined 1.9%, and the Nasdaq Composite's level declined 2.8%.
Tempus's big gains this week stemmed from a press release published by Merck and Moderna that provided an update on a trial for their cancer vaccine. Despite the big valuation pop, Tempus stock is still down roughly 10% over the last year.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
On Wednesday, Merck and Moderna published a press release detailing Phase 3 trial data for the use of a jointly developed messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccine along with Merck's Keytruda immunotherapy as a cancer treatment. The results showed that patients who took the combined treatment saw significant benefits compared to those who just took Keytruda, with the return and spread of cancer both being diminished among the cohort.
Tempus stock soared following the announcement, largely due to its pending acquisition of Personalis -- the company that developed the genomic tumor-profiling technology that was central to the development of Merck and Moderna's cancer vaccines. Tempus's deal to acquire Personalis is a binding agreement and is expected to close late this year or early in 2027.
#tempus #NASDAQ #keytruda
Tempus's big gains this week stemmed from a press release published by Merck and Moderna that provided an update on a trial for their cancer vaccine. Despite the big valuation pop, Tempus stock is still down roughly 10% over the last year.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
On Wednesday, Merck and Moderna published a press release detailing Phase 3 trial data for the use of a jointly developed messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccine along with Merck's Keytruda immunotherapy as a cancer treatment. The results showed that patients who took the combined treatment saw significant benefits compared to those who just took Keytruda, with the return and spread of cancer both being diminished among the cohort.
Tempus stock soared following the announcement, largely due to its pending acquisition of Personalis -- the company that developed the genomic tumor-profiling technology that was central to the development of Merck and Moderna's cancer vaccines. Tempus's deal to acquire Personalis is a binding agreement and is expected to close late this year or early in 2027.
#tempus #NASDAQ #keytruda
12 days ago
Interested in Eli Lilly and Company? Here are five stocks we like better.
Moderna's mRNA cancer vaccine, developed with Merck, succeeded in a late-stage melanoma trial, sending shares up 177% and boosting the broader biotech sector.
Eli Lilly, the world's largest pharmaceutical company, is nearing a 52-week high driven by its GLP-1 franchise and new oral-drug pipeline catalyst.
Natera has surged over 40% year to date on accelerating revenue growth and **** yst support, though its rich valuation reflects a momentum-driven growth profile.
The biotech sector just got the kind of catalyst that can define a cycle. On Wednesday, Moderna (NASDAQ: MRNA) stunned the market when its personalized mRNA cancer vaccine, developed with Merck (NYSE: MRK), became the first such therapy to succeed in a late-stage trial, reducing the risk of melanoma recurrence.
#lilly #company #cancer
Moderna's mRNA cancer vaccine, developed with Merck, succeeded in a late-stage melanoma trial, sending shares up 177% and boosting the broader biotech sector.
Eli Lilly, the world's largest pharmaceutical company, is nearing a 52-week high driven by its GLP-1 franchise and new oral-drug pipeline catalyst.
Natera has surged over 40% year to date on accelerating revenue growth and **** yst support, though its rich valuation reflects a momentum-driven growth profile.
The biotech sector just got the kind of catalyst that can define a cycle. On Wednesday, Moderna (NASDAQ: MRNA) stunned the market when its personalized mRNA cancer vaccine, developed with Merck (NYSE: MRK), became the first such therapy to succeed in a late-stage trial, reducing the risk of melanoma recurrence.
#lilly #company #cancer
13 days ago
Moderna, the American pharma company that became popular for its COVID vaccine, has spent three days trading like a meme stock. Shares exploded 177% on Wednesday after its personalized mRNA cancer vaccine with Merck succeeded in a Phase 3 melanoma trial, adding roughly $30 billion in market value in a single session.
Heavy short covering helped turn a major clinical breakthrough into an extraordinary market move. Then came the whiplash. Moderna fell 23.6% on Thursday, before buyers rushed back on Friday.
Even after the violent pullback and another volatile session, Moderna was still up more than 140% for the week. BeInCrypto ******* ysts now looked at three other US stocks that could potentially have a similar setup.
Moderna's day began with a collapse and a recovery, and Intel has both, sinking to $21.81 before quadrupling to $92.80 in a year, even as chip leaders wobbled.
Its Q2 revenue grew 25.4%, the best in 15 years, and CEO Lip-Bu Tan just put $10 million into the stock at $95 per share.
#shares
Heavy short covering helped turn a major clinical breakthrough into an extraordinary market move. Then came the whiplash. Moderna fell 23.6% on Thursday, before buyers rushed back on Friday.
Even after the violent pullback and another volatile session, Moderna was still up more than 140% for the week. BeInCrypto ******* ysts now looked at three other US stocks that could potentially have a similar setup.
Moderna's day began with a collapse and a recovery, and Intel has both, sinking to $21.81 before quadrupling to $92.80 in a year, even as chip leaders wobbled.
Its Q2 revenue grew 25.4%, the best in 15 years, and CEO Lip-Bu Tan just put $10 million into the stock at $95 per share.
#shares
15 days ago
US stocks rose on Wednesday, snapping a three-day losing streak, after the US Treasury Department said it would increase its buybacks of long-dated government debt, leading yields to pull back sharply.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) and the S&P 500 (^GSPC) both gained 0.2%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) also roughly put on 0.2%.
In individual stocks, Moderna (MRNA) shares surged 176% after the company reported positive results from its late-stage trial of a melanoma vaccine developed with Merck (MRK).
Stocks gained momentum after Treasury yields eased from their highest levels in years. Bond prices, which move inversely to yields, rallied after the US Treasury Department said it would increase buybacks of long-dated government debt "by at least double" for securities from the 10-year to 30-year sector.
The 10-year yield (^TNX) fell by 5 basis points to 4.65%, while the 30-year yield (^TYX) declined by 9 basis points to 5.19% after hitting its highest level since 2007 earlier this week.
#stocks #buybacks #long #dated
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) and the S&P 500 (^GSPC) both gained 0.2%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) also roughly put on 0.2%.
In individual stocks, Moderna (MRNA) shares surged 176% after the company reported positive results from its late-stage trial of a melanoma vaccine developed with Merck (MRK).
Stocks gained momentum after Treasury yields eased from their highest levels in years. Bond prices, which move inversely to yields, rallied after the US Treasury Department said it would increase buybacks of long-dated government debt "by at least double" for securities from the 10-year to 30-year sector.
The 10-year yield (^TNX) fell by 5 basis points to 4.65%, while the 30-year yield (^TYX) declined by 9 basis points to 5.19% after hitting its highest level since 2007 earlier this week.
#stocks #buybacks #long #dated
15 days ago
By Christy Santhosh and Shashwat Chauhan
Aug 19 (Reuters) - Moderna shares more than doubled on Wednesday, adding about $30 billion to its market value, after promising late-stage data on its personalized mRNA cancer therapy developed with Merck sent investors piling into the stock.
The therapy is central to Moderna's efforts to prove that its mRNA technology can succeed beyond its COVID-19 vaccine franchise and infectious disease shots, as it seeks to build a more durable revenue base. The company recently added a flu vaccine to its portfolio and is advancing experimental vaccines for conditions including norovirus and Lyme disease.
Analysts had noted the cancer vaccine data could be an important catalyst for the company and potentially strengthen investor sentiment.
"A successful trial gives investors stronger evidence that mRNA technology can have a meaningful future beyond infectious diseases," said Lale Akoner, global market strategist for eToro.
#market #cancer #Therapy #investors
Aug 19 (Reuters) - Moderna shares more than doubled on Wednesday, adding about $30 billion to its market value, after promising late-stage data on its personalized mRNA cancer therapy developed with Merck sent investors piling into the stock.
The therapy is central to Moderna's efforts to prove that its mRNA technology can succeed beyond its COVID-19 vaccine franchise and infectious disease shots, as it seeks to build a more durable revenue base. The company recently added a flu vaccine to its portfolio and is advancing experimental vaccines for conditions including norovirus and Lyme disease.
Analysts had noted the cancer vaccine data could be an important catalyst for the company and potentially strengthen investor sentiment.
"A successful trial gives investors stronger evidence that mRNA technology can have a meaningful future beyond infectious diseases," said Lale Akoner, global market strategist for eToro.
#market #cancer #Therapy #investors
15 days ago
(Bloomberg) -- A record surge in Moderna Inc.'s shares delivered a $5 billion blow to short sellers who had bet that the vaccine maker's years-long slump would continue.
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#senator
15 days ago
Good morning. Stocks turned higher at the open, but tech stocks resumed their sell-off from yesterday. While the Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) fell in early trading, the Dow (^DJI) and S&P 500 (^GSPC) were buoyed by falling bond yields after the US Treasury Department stepped in to support buybacks of long-dated securities.
Here's a check of the markets in the first few minutes of trading, based on a heat map powered by Yahoo Finance AlphaSpace data.
The tech sector (XLK) faced renewed selling pressure as semiconductor stocks continued to slide, led by declines in shares of Intel (INTC), AMD (AMD), and Broadcom (AVGO).
On the other end of the spectrum, Healthcare (XLV) saw tremendous strength, driven by a 124% gain in Moderna (MRNA) following positive phase 3 trial results for its melanoma vaccine developed with Merck (MRK).
Basic Materials (XLB) also led the morning, as a surge in gold futures (GC=F) and gold miner stocks broadly rose.
#stocks #Gold #good #NASDAQ
Here's a check of the markets in the first few minutes of trading, based on a heat map powered by Yahoo Finance AlphaSpace data.
The tech sector (XLK) faced renewed selling pressure as semiconductor stocks continued to slide, led by declines in shares of Intel (INTC), AMD (AMD), and Broadcom (AVGO).
On the other end of the spectrum, Healthcare (XLV) saw tremendous strength, driven by a 124% gain in Moderna (MRNA) following positive phase 3 trial results for its melanoma vaccine developed with Merck (MRK).
Basic Materials (XLB) also led the morning, as a surge in gold futures (GC=F) and gold miner stocks broadly rose.
#stocks #Gold #good #NASDAQ
15 days ago
CHICAGO, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Merck and Moderna's success with a personalized cancer vaccine designed to keep melanoma at bay opens a new avenue of treatment that doctors hope will work against many types of tumors.
Unlike chemotherapy, which kills both healthy and cancerous cells, or immunotherapy, which revs up the immune system, personalized cancer vaccines train the immune system to specifically target mutations found only on a person's tumor.
Merck and Moderna said on Wednesday their vaccine helped prevent the return and spread of disease in a large trial involving more than 1,000 melanoma patients. They had localized tumors that were removed surgically, but had a high risk of recurrence. Moderna expects that thousands of melanoma patients could benefit within the first few years of approval.
"It is a big deal for the field in general," said Dr. Ryan Sullivan, director of the Center for Melanoma at Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute. "With this positive study, there is hope (and likely investment to follow) that these approaches may change the way we treat cancer more broadly."
The trial result is "a monumental leap forward," validating mRNA technology as a cancer treatment, said Dr. Julie Gralow, chief medical officer of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
#cancer #merck #general
Unlike chemotherapy, which kills both healthy and cancerous cells, or immunotherapy, which revs up the immune system, personalized cancer vaccines train the immune system to specifically target mutations found only on a person's tumor.
Merck and Moderna said on Wednesday their vaccine helped prevent the return and spread of disease in a large trial involving more than 1,000 melanoma patients. They had localized tumors that were removed surgically, but had a high risk of recurrence. Moderna expects that thousands of melanoma patients could benefit within the first few years of approval.
"It is a big deal for the field in general," said Dr. Ryan Sullivan, director of the Center for Melanoma at Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute. "With this positive study, there is hope (and likely investment to follow) that these approaches may change the way we treat cancer more broadly."
The trial result is "a monumental leap forward," validating mRNA technology as a cancer treatment, said Dr. Julie Gralow, chief medical officer of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
#cancer #merck #general
15 days ago
Moderna (MRNA) surged 177% and Merck (MRK) rose 12.5% after their mRNA cancer vaccine met key Phase 3 melanoma trial goals.
Phase 2b data showed a 49% reduction in recurrence or death versus Keytruda alone, with nine studies now underway across multiple cancer types.
Act now: the ******* yst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Merck didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA) shares have crashed 20% as of 12:00 PM ET on Thursday after delivering one of the biotech sector's most extraordinary single-day moves of 2026. CNBC co-anchor Andrew Ross Sorkin told viewers that Moderna's Phase 3 results for its experimental cancer vaccine sent the stock soaring 177% on Wednesday, while partner Merck (NYSE:MRK) rallied 12.5%.
As Sorkin summarized on air, "The mRNA based shot, in combination with Merck's immunotherapy called Keytruda, met key goals in a trial of patients with higher risk or advanced melanoma whose detectable cancer had been removed."
#mrna #merck #phase #sorkin
Phase 2b data showed a 49% reduction in recurrence or death versus Keytruda alone, with nine studies now underway across multiple cancer types.
Act now: the ******* yst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Merck didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA) shares have crashed 20% as of 12:00 PM ET on Thursday after delivering one of the biotech sector's most extraordinary single-day moves of 2026. CNBC co-anchor Andrew Ross Sorkin told viewers that Moderna's Phase 3 results for its experimental cancer vaccine sent the stock soaring 177% on Wednesday, while partner Merck (NYSE:MRK) rallied 12.5%.
As Sorkin summarized on air, "The mRNA based shot, in combination with Merck's immunotherapy called Keytruda, met key goals in a trial of patients with higher risk or advanced melanoma whose detectable cancer had been removed."
#mrna #merck #phase #sorkin
15 days ago
It's the day after one of the surprise healthcare stories of 2026.
Moderna (MRNA) shares fell 20% in early trading on Thursday after a stunning 177% gain yesterday on news that the biotech and partner Merck (MRK) notched a big breakthrough in the fight against cancer.
The pair announced that their personalized mRNA cancer vaccine — called intismeran — successfully hit its primary goal in a Phase 3 late-stage trial, demonstrating a meaningful reduction in melanoma recurrence in patients who had already had their tumors surgically removed.
The trial compared using intismeran alongside Merck's well-known immunotherapy drug Keytruda against using Keytruda alone. Patients who received the combination lived meaningfully longer without their cancer returning or spreading.
"It's a home run, maybe even a grand slam," Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel said on Yahoo Finance (video above). "The results are pretty amazing."
#patients
Moderna (MRNA) shares fell 20% in early trading on Thursday after a stunning 177% gain yesterday on news that the biotech and partner Merck (MRK) notched a big breakthrough in the fight against cancer.
The pair announced that their personalized mRNA cancer vaccine — called intismeran — successfully hit its primary goal in a Phase 3 late-stage trial, demonstrating a meaningful reduction in melanoma recurrence in patients who had already had their tumors surgically removed.
The trial compared using intismeran alongside Merck's well-known immunotherapy drug Keytruda against using Keytruda alone. Patients who received the combination lived meaningfully longer without their cancer returning or spreading.
"It's a home run, maybe even a grand slam," Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel said on Yahoo Finance (video above). "The results are pretty amazing."
#patients
24 days ago
During the August 6 episode of CNBC's Mad Money, Jim Cramer pointed to a growing sector rotation as portfolio managers look for innovation outside the mega-cap technology ***** e. He said:
Finally, tech had such a run that portfolio managers want exposure to other sectors of the market that still have innovation. Think of them as non- tech tech stocks. For the… Charitable Trust club, we've been emphasizing Eli Lilly and Johnson & Johnson. And we talked about these… I talked about them at length with Jeff Marks today at our 10:20 call. They both had terrific quarters and deserve to be bought on any weakness.
Cramer's thesis highlights how mega-cap healthcare operators provide defensive shelter with strong dividend profiles and maintain high-growth product pipelines. Cramer further emphasized that innovation in biotechnology is driving tangible financial gains. He said:
Amgen just racked up an excellent quarter. And credit where credit's due, time to accept that Moderna has begun to realize its stream of specialized vaccines for specific illnesses. Just last night, the company, it received FDA approval for its mRNA flu vaccine. Well, there's a reason why the stock's up 83% for the year.
Later in the August 6 episode, a caller asked Cramer about Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) after holding the stock through recent buyout speculation. In response, Cramer remarked:
#episode #managers
Finally, tech had such a run that portfolio managers want exposure to other sectors of the market that still have innovation. Think of them as non- tech tech stocks. For the… Charitable Trust club, we've been emphasizing Eli Lilly and Johnson & Johnson. And we talked about these… I talked about them at length with Jeff Marks today at our 10:20 call. They both had terrific quarters and deserve to be bought on any weakness.
Cramer's thesis highlights how mega-cap healthcare operators provide defensive shelter with strong dividend profiles and maintain high-growth product pipelines. Cramer further emphasized that innovation in biotechnology is driving tangible financial gains. He said:
Amgen just racked up an excellent quarter. And credit where credit's due, time to accept that Moderna has begun to realize its stream of specialized vaccines for specific illnesses. Just last night, the company, it received FDA approval for its mRNA flu vaccine. Well, there's a reason why the stock's up 83% for the year.
Later in the August 6 episode, a caller asked Cramer about Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) after holding the stock through recent buyout speculation. In response, Cramer remarked:
#episode #managers
2 months ago
Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA) is one of the 10 Best Performing American Stocks in June 2026.
On July 7, 2026, RBC Capital raised the firm's price target on Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA) to $45 from $38 and kept a Sector Perform rating on the shares as part of a broader Q2 earnings preview for biotech. RBC said the biotech sector has gained considerable momentum, helped by strong data expanding innovative ***** es and perceptions of improving FDA flexibility and stability. The firm added that Q2 earnings are shaping up to be seasonally strong, with multiple opportunities for beats and continued M&A activity.
On June 26, Piper Sandler raised the firm's price target on Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA) to $77 from $69 previously and kept an Overweight rating on the shares.
Copyright: nexusplexus / 123RF Stock Photo
On June 25, Moderna announced research and early development updates at its Science Day event. The company said it is balancing near-term growth with long-term innovation, supported by its four approved products, infectious disease launches, geographic expansion, and late-stage pipeline opportunities, including investigational intismeran autogene therapy and propionic acidemia therapeutic. Moderna also said its Scientific Intelligence Engine uses data, AI, and machine learning, automation, and robotics to accelerate discovery and improve operations.
On July 7, 2026, RBC Capital raised the firm's price target on Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA) to $45 from $38 and kept a Sector Perform rating on the shares as part of a broader Q2 earnings preview for biotech. RBC said the biotech sector has gained considerable momentum, helped by strong data expanding innovative ***** es and perceptions of improving FDA flexibility and stability. The firm added that Q2 earnings are shaping up to be seasonally strong, with multiple opportunities for beats and continued M&A activity.
On June 26, Piper Sandler raised the firm's price target on Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA) to $77 from $69 previously and kept an Overweight rating on the shares.
Copyright: nexusplexus / 123RF Stock Photo
On June 25, Moderna announced research and early development updates at its Science Day event. The company said it is balancing near-term growth with long-term innovation, supported by its four approved products, infectious disease launches, geographic expansion, and late-stage pipeline opportunities, including investigational intismeran autogene therapy and propionic acidemia therapeutic. Moderna also said its Scientific Intelligence Engine uses data, AI, and machine learning, automation, and robotics to accelerate discovery and improve operations.
2 months ago
Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA) was among the stocks Jim Cramer commented on as he advised investors on how to take advantage of Wednesday's market rotation. Cramer highlighted the stock's significant gains during the year, as he said:
If you look at the market's best performers year to date, nearly all of them are either companies that sell hardware into the data center or companies that sell hardware to the hardware makers. But there's one solitary exception in the top 15: Moderna, the biotech company best known for its COVID vaccine. Right now, Moderna's the 12th best-performing stock in the S&P 500, up 146% year to date. Now, that is pretty impressive… The truth is, after spending years lost in the post-COVID wilderness, this company's now got a lot going for it. I think the rally's for real. I think the company's for real now…
It's no wonder that Moderna stock has caught fire; think about all these great things they're doing. For the first time in a long time, the company seems like it is something to get excited about in the not too distant future. But, and this is a big but, let's not forget that Moderna's still losing money. In fact, they don't expect to reach cash break-even levels until 2028. Actual earnings per share likely won't turn positive until 2029. But the company is at last beginning to realize its true potential. Plus, while I found Moderna's cancer trials very impressive, these are basically just cancer treatments. They're not the personalized anti-cancer vaccines that management's been talking about for years that got me so excited about the stock…
Let me give you the bottom line on this amazing story that wasn't amazing for a long time: Even though Moderna's still early on its turnaround, it's hard not to be excited about what the company presented just last week. Moderna's got a plethora of thoughtful new products and a clear roadmap to profitability for the first time in such a long time. Honestly, now, look, I am a bit wary of chasing any stock that's up nearly 150%, but the truth is Moderna finally feels investible again. That said, I recommend waiting for a pullback, there probably will be one, before you buy. Take your time. I think Moderna's got a bright future, though. It'll take years to get there… For the first time in ages, I like having a position in Moderna.
Photo by Ian Hutchinson on Unsplash
If you look at the market's best performers year to date, nearly all of them are either companies that sell hardware into the data center or companies that sell hardware to the hardware makers. But there's one solitary exception in the top 15: Moderna, the biotech company best known for its COVID vaccine. Right now, Moderna's the 12th best-performing stock in the S&P 500, up 146% year to date. Now, that is pretty impressive… The truth is, after spending years lost in the post-COVID wilderness, this company's now got a lot going for it. I think the rally's for real. I think the company's for real now…
It's no wonder that Moderna stock has caught fire; think about all these great things they're doing. For the first time in a long time, the company seems like it is something to get excited about in the not too distant future. But, and this is a big but, let's not forget that Moderna's still losing money. In fact, they don't expect to reach cash break-even levels until 2028. Actual earnings per share likely won't turn positive until 2029. But the company is at last beginning to realize its true potential. Plus, while I found Moderna's cancer trials very impressive, these are basically just cancer treatments. They're not the personalized anti-cancer vaccines that management's been talking about for years that got me so excited about the stock…
Let me give you the bottom line on this amazing story that wasn't amazing for a long time: Even though Moderna's still early on its turnaround, it's hard not to be excited about what the company presented just last week. Moderna's got a plethora of thoughtful new products and a clear roadmap to profitability for the first time in such a long time. Honestly, now, look, I am a bit wary of chasing any stock that's up nearly 150%, but the truth is Moderna finally feels investible again. That said, I recommend waiting for a pullback, there probably will be one, before you buy. Take your time. I think Moderna's got a bright future, though. It'll take years to get there… For the first time in ages, I like having a position in Moderna.
Photo by Ian Hutchinson on Unsplash
2 months ago
Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA) was among the stocks Jim Cramer commented on as he advised investors on how to take advantage of Wednesday's market rotation. Cramer highlighted the stock's significant gains during the year, as he said:
If you look at the market's best performers year to date, nearly all of them are either companies that sell hardware into the data center or companies that sell hardware to the hardware makers. But there's one solitary exception in the top 15: Moderna, the biotech company best known for its COVID vaccine. Right now, Moderna's the 12th best-performing stock in the S&P 500, up 146% year to date. Now, that is pretty impressive… The truth is, after spending years lost in the post-COVID wilderness, this company's now got a lot going for it. I think the rally's for real. I think the company's for real now…
It's no wonder that Moderna stock has caught fire; think about all these great things they're doing. For the first time in a long time, the company seems like it is something to get excited about in the not too distant future. But, and this is a big but, let's not forget that Moderna's still losing money. In fact, they don't expect to reach cash break-even levels until 2028. Actual earnings per share likely won't turn positive until 2029. But the company is at last beginning to realize its true potential. Plus, while I found Moderna's cancer trials very impressive, these are basically just cancer treatments. They're not the personalized anti-cancer vaccines that management's been talking about for years that got me so excited about the stock…
Let me give you the bottom line on this amazing story that wasn't amazing for a long time: Even though Moderna's still early on its turnaround, it's hard not to be excited about what the company presented just last week. Moderna's got a plethora of thoughtful new products and a clear roadmap to profitability for the first time in such a long time. Honestly, now, look, I am a bit wary of chasing any stock that's up nearly 150%, but the truth is Moderna finally feels investible again. That said, I recommend waiting for a pullback, there probably will be one, before you buy. Take your time. I think Moderna's got a bright future, though. It'll take years to get there… For the first time in ages, I like having a position in Moderna.
Photo by Ian Hutchinson on Unsplash
If you look at the market's best performers year to date, nearly all of them are either companies that sell hardware into the data center or companies that sell hardware to the hardware makers. But there's one solitary exception in the top 15: Moderna, the biotech company best known for its COVID vaccine. Right now, Moderna's the 12th best-performing stock in the S&P 500, up 146% year to date. Now, that is pretty impressive… The truth is, after spending years lost in the post-COVID wilderness, this company's now got a lot going for it. I think the rally's for real. I think the company's for real now…
It's no wonder that Moderna stock has caught fire; think about all these great things they're doing. For the first time in a long time, the company seems like it is something to get excited about in the not too distant future. But, and this is a big but, let's not forget that Moderna's still losing money. In fact, they don't expect to reach cash break-even levels until 2028. Actual earnings per share likely won't turn positive until 2029. But the company is at last beginning to realize its true potential. Plus, while I found Moderna's cancer trials very impressive, these are basically just cancer treatments. They're not the personalized anti-cancer vaccines that management's been talking about for years that got me so excited about the stock…
Let me give you the bottom line on this amazing story that wasn't amazing for a long time: Even though Moderna's still early on its turnaround, it's hard not to be excited about what the company presented just last week. Moderna's got a plethora of thoughtful new products and a clear roadmap to profitability for the first time in such a long time. Honestly, now, look, I am a bit wary of chasing any stock that's up nearly 150%, but the truth is Moderna finally feels investible again. That said, I recommend waiting for a pullback, there probably will be one, before you buy. Take your time. I think Moderna's got a bright future, though. It'll take years to get there… For the first time in ages, I like having a position in Moderna.
Photo by Ian Hutchinson on Unsplash
