Moderna’s mRNA flu vaccine shows 26.6% higher efficacy in older adults

CAMBRIDGE - Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA), trading near $27 and down over 77% in the past year, reported Monday that its experimental mRNA-1010 seasonal influenza vaccine demonstrated 26.6% higher relative vaccine efficacy compared to a standard-dose flu vaccine in adults aged 50 and older. According to InvestingPro analysis, the company currently appears undervalued despite maintaining a strong balance sheet with more cash than debt.

The Phase 3 efficacy study involving 40,805 participants across 11 countries showed strong relative efficacy across all influenza strains contained in the vaccine: 29.6% for A/H1N1, 22.2% for A/H3N2, and 29.1% for B/Victoria lineages. In participants 65 and older, the vaccine showed a relative efficacy of 27.4%.

"Today’s strong Phase 3 efficacy results are a significant milestone in our effort to reduce the burden of influenza in older adults," said Stéphane Bancel, Chief Executive Officer of Moderna, in the press release.

The safety profile was consistent with previous studies, with most solicited adverse reactions being mild. Injection site pain was the most common local reaction, while fatigue, headache, and myalgia were the most common systemic reactions.

According to the company, mRNA-1010 had previously demonstrated superior seroconversion rates against all strains compared to both high-dose and standard-dose licensed seasonal influenza vaccines in an earlier Phase 3 study.

The announcement comes after what the CDC reported as a 15-year high in seasonal flu-related hospitalizations during the 2024-2025 season, with more than 600,000 Americans hospitalized.

Moderna plans to present the data at an upcoming medical conference and engage with regulators on filing submissions for mRNA-1010, according to the company statement. With six analysts recently revising earnings estimates upward, investors can access detailed analysis and 10 additional key insights through InvestingPro’s comprehensive research reports, available for over 1,400 US stocks.

In other recent news, Moderna has received limited approval from the FDA for its new mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, designed for high-risk populations. This approval comes with a commitment from Moderna to conduct a placebo-controlled trial, with the FDA closely monitoring all trial data. Piper Sandler has maintained an Overweight rating on Moderna’s stock, projecting COVID-19 vaccine revenues of $1.77 billion for the year. However, the company has withdrawn its application for a combination flu-COVID vaccine, planning to resubmit with new data by mid-2025.

Meanwhile, Moderna reported promising results from its Phase 1/2 trial of the H5 avian flu vaccine, mRNA-1018, showing a strong immune response in participants. Despite this, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has canceled a $590 million award for the vaccine’s late-stage development, adding uncertainty to the project. Moderna’s CEO expressed optimism about the vaccine’s potential and indicated the company will seek alternative development paths. Additionally, Moderna is awaiting Phase III data on its CMVictory vaccine later this year, and it reported $8.4 billion in cash reserves at the end of the first quarter of 2025.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.