NBC News headlined it "Merck and Moderna say cancer vaccine shows promise in preventing recurrence of melanoma". Reason headlined it "Breakthrough Personalized mRNA Vaccines Are Highly Effective Against Melanoma Skin Cancers". The Daily Wire headlined it "New Vaccine Shows Early Signs Of Stopping Cancer Spread".
Moderna and Merck announced that an experimental cancer therapy combining an mRNA vaccine with an existing drug met its goals in a trial aimed at preventing melanoma from returning after treatment. BBC News headlined it "Vaccine trialled by Moderna and Merck stops skin cancer returning".
The announcement sent shares in both companies sharply higher. Accounts of the exact size of the moves varied. The Daily Wire reported: "Moderna's stock jumped "more than doubled" Wednesday morning, and Merck shares rose more than 10%, per the Journal."1 NBC News noted: "Moderna shares soared as much as 147% in Wednesday trading. Merck shares were up about 13%."2 Axios added: "Moderna shares surging 177% Wednesday, while Merck shares closed up 12.6%."3
Moderna's chief executive pointed to a shift toward cancer treatment and to expectations of renewed sales growth. ""We are now an oncology company," Moderna Chief Executive Stéphane Bancel said. "1By Christmas, you could have a company that's going back into sales growth for the first time in four years."", The Daily Wire said.
The results arrived after earlier federal decisions affecting mRNA research funding. NBC News wrote: "The future of mRNA research has been uncertain under the Trump administration. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has repeatedly criticized mRNA technology, and he slashed $500 million in contracts last year for mRNA vaccine research and development."2 Axios stated: "Political backlash following the pandemic — including the Trump administration pulling nearly $500 million in federal funding for mRNA research — raised questions about the field's long-term prospects."3
