Back to top

Image: Bigstock

Moderna (MRNA) Gets CHMP Nod for Omicron BA.4, BA.5 Booster Jab

Read MoreHide Full Article

Moderna (MRNA - Free Report) announced that the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (“CHMP”) recommended approving the use of a 50-µg booster dose of its mRNA-based bivalent BA.4/BA.5 Omicron-targeting COVID-19 vaccine, mRNA-1273.222. The dose will be administered to individuals 12 years of age and older.

This bivalent vaccine combines 25-µg Spikevax (mRNA-1273), Moderna’s currently marketed COVID vaccine, and 25-µg of another vaccine candidate targeting the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants.

The CHMP recommendation is supported by data based on preclinical studies conducted on mRNA-1273.222 and data from the phase II/III study, which evaluated mRNA-1273.214, another bivalent candidate developed by Moderna to target the Omicron BA.1 subvariant. mRNA-1273.214 was authorized by European Commission (“EC”) last month for individuals aged 12 years and above.

An ongoing phase II/III study is evaluating mRNA-1273.222. Initial data from the same is expected by this year’s end.

Shares of Moderna have declined 51.4% so far this year compared with the industry’s 25.0% fall.

Zacks Investment Research
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

If mRNA-1273.222 were authorized, it would face stiff competition from the mRNA-based bivalent vaccines developed by Pfizer (PFE - Free Report) and its partner BioNTech (BNTX - Free Report) . Pfizer/BioNTech received authorization for two bivalent vaccines targeting the Omicron variant. While Pfizer/BioNTech initially received authorization for its BA.1 Omicron-targeting bivalent vaccine on the same day as mRNA-1273.214, the EC authorized their Omicron BA.4/BA.5-adapted bivalent vaccine in adults and adolescents on Sep 12, 2022.

Currently, the bivalent BA.4/BA.5 Omicron-targeting COVID-19 vaccines developed by Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech are authorized for use in the United States. While Pfizer/BioNTech’s vaccine is authorized for use in individuals aged five years and older, Moderna’s bivalent vaccines can be administered to individuals aged six years and above.

In a separate press release, Moderna also announced that the CHMP recommended 25-µg two-dose series of Spikevax for use in individuals aged six months to five years of age. The CHMP has also recommended expanding the use of Pfizer/BioNTech’s Comirnaty for use in individuals aged between six months and four years of age. Currently, a primary regimen of Spikevax is authorized for use in people aged six years and older, while Comirnaty is authorized for use in individuals aged five years and older.

 

Zacks Rank & Key Pick

Moderna currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). A better-ranked stock in the overall healthcare sector is Morphic (MORF - Free Report) , which sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

In the past 60 days, estimates for Morphic’s 2023 loss per share have narrowed from $3.77 to $3.61 during the same period. Shares of Morphic have lost 48.2% in the year-to-date period.

Earnings of Morphic beat estimates in three of the last four quarters and missed the mark just once, witnessing a surprise of 48.29%, on average. In the last reported quarter, MORF delivered an earnings surprise of 183.95%.

Published in