Moderna stock price soars 177% on melanoma vaccine successNEWS | 20 August 2026After making its name as a vaccine-maker during the COVID era, Moderna has been looking for its second act as a major drug developer. Investors seem to think it's landed on something.
Moderna stock surged 177% to $174.38 on Wednesday after reporting successful results in a late-stage trial for a melanoma drug, in partnership with Merck.
"These Phase 3 findings represent a pivotal moment for the field of cancer research," Stéphane Bancel, CEO of Moderna, said in a press release on Wednesday. "For many years, the idea of creating an mRNA treatment designed specifically for an individual patient's cancer was aspirational. We are now helping turn that vision into a reality."
The vaccine's effectiveness is in reducing the recurrence of melanoma and is given alongside Keytruda, an immunotherapy drug from Merck.
The jump in Moderna's stock price comes after a difficult five-year stretch following COVID-era heights. Even after the triple-figure surge on Wednesday, shares are still down roughly two-thirds from a peak of $484 reached in August 2021.
Still, Wednesday's gain brings the company's year-to-date gain to 445%. Things are moving in the right direction for the vaccine giant.Author: Every Time. William Edwards. Source
