Moderna Inc.’s (NASDAQ:MRNA) latest cancer-vaccine breakthrough could be doing more than sending its stock sharply higher. It may be giving investors a reason to revisit an mRNA investment thesis that has largely been defined by COVID-19. ETFs tied to precision medicine names are also getting a boost.
• Moderna stock is at critical resistance. Why are MRNA shares at highs?
Moderna and Merck & Co Inc. (NYSE:MRK) announced positive topline results from the Phase 3 INTerpath-001 trial of intismeran autogene, an individualized mRNA-based neoantigen therapy, in patients with completely resected stage IIB-IV melanoma. The combination of intismeran and Merck’s Keytruda delivered statistically significant improvements in both recurrence-free survival and distant metastasis-free survival versus Keytruda alone.
The result is particularly significant because it represents the first positive Phase 3 readout for an individualized mRNA cancer therapy.
For ETF investors, however, the bigger question is whether this can revive the broader precision-medicine trade.
