Moderna Stock More Than Doubles After Positive Phase 3 Readout for Personalized mRNA Cancer Therapy

Moderna shares surged about 131% on Wednesday after the company and Merck said their Phase 3 INTerpath-001 trial met key goals in patients with surgically removed stage IIB-IV melanoma. The study tested intismeran autogene, also known as V940 or mRNA-4157, in combination with Keytruda. According to the companies, the regimen met recurrence-free survival and distant-metastasis-free survival endpoints, marking the first positive Phase 3 result for a personalized neoantigen therapy and the first for an mRNA-based cancer treatment. Moderna stock nearly reached $148 after hitting an intraday high of $163, setting a record one-day jump, while Merck shares also rose. The report said the therapy works by sequencing a patient’s tumor, identifying unique mutations, and using mRNA to help the body generate neoantigens that train the immune system to attack cancer. ORTEX co-founder Peter Hillerberg said losses of nearly $100 per shorted share could create the kind of pressure that triggers a squeeze. The trial will continue to track overall survival and other secondary endpoints that have not yet been reported.