Moderna stock popped Monday after the company said its bivalent Covid booster led to a 15-fold jump in omicron-blocking antibodies.
The release is the first human test data for this iteration of Moderna's updated booster. This shot aims to block infections caused by the BA.4 and BA. 5 subvariants of omicron as well as the ancestral strain. The booster gained authorization based on lab data and human test results of an earlier booster that attempted to block BA.1. That shot is available abroad, but not in the U.S.
"We are pleased to see that both of our bivalent booster vaccine candidates offer superior protection against omicron BA.4/BA.5 variants compared to our original booster, which is encouraging given Covid-19 remains a leading cause of hospitalization and death globally," Chief Executive Stephane Bancel said in a written statement.
On the stock market today, Moderna stock surged 4.6% to 179.03.
Moderna Stock: Strong Results In Uninfected People
Moderna tested the updated booster in 511 previously vaccinated and boosted people age 19 to 89. The vaccinated group received their booster 9.5 months after the first two-dose series. The other group got their updated booster 4.5 months after the first booster shot.
Across those groups, participants had a 15.1-fold increase in antibodies capable of handling BA.4 and BA.5 from their pre-boost levels.
For participants without prior infection, the results were even stronger. That group experienced a 26.4-fold increase in antibodies. Those previously sickened with Covid had a 9.8- fold jump in antibodies. The results were consistent between people age 65 and older, and those age 18 to 65.
Bullishly for Moderna stock, the updated shot looked active against the emerging BQ.1.1 variant. That variant now accounts for 24.1% of cases in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In comparison, BA.5 is responsible for 29.7% of cases.
Will Booster Demand Increase?
It's unclear what the new data from Moderna will do to increase booster demand. The Pfizer and BioNTech shot is available to people age 5 and older. According to the CDC, about 10% of people eligible — age 5 and up — have gotten the updated shot.
Plenty of questions exist as to the benefits of the updated shots compared with their predecessors. Recently, Pfizer said its updated shot led to a fourfold increase in antibodies for people age 55 and older vs. the original booster. But it didn't provide the same comparison for younger adults.
Moderna stock is on the rise, though. Shares are forming a cup base with a buy point at 197.54, according to MarketSmith.com. Pfizer stock also jumped Monday, advancing 3.5% to 49.24. BioNTech shares — also forming a cup with an entry at 185.19 — lifted 3.8% to 160.37.
Follow Allison Gatlin on Twitter at @IBD_AGatlin.
