Moderna’s MRNA shares were lower after a news report said biotechnology was delaying the start of a Phase III trial of its experimental coronavirus vaccine.
Shares of the Cambridge, Massachusetts company in the latest check fell 5.4% to $ 58.25.
Healthcare website Stat News said Moderna was making changes to the trial plan or protocol, which delayed the planned start date of the Phase III study, according to researchers who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago had previously said that the Moderna trial would begin on July 9.
“I understood that they wanted to receive the first vaccines in July, and they say they are still committed to doing so,” said one researcher, according to Stat News. “The best I can say is that they are close to being the target for that.”
Moderna released a statement on Twitter saying that “the trial is still expected to start in July and we hope to be the first to start a Phase 3 trial.”
The company said it has “worked closely” with the National Institutes of Health, which is funding the Phase III study, “to align the final protocol to start the trial on time.”
Last week, Modern and drug delivery specialist Catalent (CTLT) – Get report unveiled a joint effort to release the Moderna coronavirus vaccine candidate this quarter.
In June, Moderna said the primary goal of the trial will be to prevent coronavirus, while secondary goals include preventing serious cases of the disease that require hospitalization and preventing infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the covid-19.
The company said it has manufactured enough vaccine to start the phase III trial. Moderna said she intended to enroll 600 healthy participants into two groups of adults ages 18 to 54, and adults age 55 and older.
Moderna did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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