Modern Inc. (NASDAQ: MRNA) shares moved to the rise Wednesday after the company unveiled new interim safety and immunogenicity data of cohorts of older adults in its Phase 1 study of its candidate for coronavirus vaccine codenamed mRNA-1273.
What happened: Moderna’s mRNA-1273 produces neutralizing antibodies in adults over 55 that are comparable to those seen in younger adults, said Jacqueline Miller, senior vice president of Moderna for Infectious Diseases, at a presentation at the meeting of e Advisory Committee for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Immunization Practice,
The NIH-sponsored Phase 1 study enrolled 45 adults aged 16-55 and 20 each in age groups of 56-70 and adults older than 71.
The company said the two-dose regimen of the 100mcg dose seroconverted all participants to the first dose, which was administered on day one, with the area under the curve for all age groups representing the median of restorative sera surpassed.
The age groups after the second dose were equivalent to high-titer recovery sera, Moderna said.
The 100mcg dose chosen for the Phase 3 study was found to be well tolerated across all age groups in the Phase 1 study.
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Why it’s important: Efficacy and safety data for older adults are important because they are considered less responsive to vaccines as a group relative to younger adults.
As Moderna continues with the Phase 2 and 3 studies that are currently underway, the additional data from the older adult cohorts should increase confidence in the success of their vaccination program.
The company also said it plans to evaluate the research vaccine in children, pregnant women and immunocompromised populations.
MRNA Price Action: At last check, Moderna shares were up 6.34% to $ 70.45.
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