"Is the Path to Conquering Human Cancer Opening Up?" ... This Stock Soars 14% as a Beneficiary of Moderna's mRNA Windfall [Shareholders' Club]

[Financial News] Shares of U.S. pharmaceutical company Moderna surged 177% after the world's first large-scale clinical trial of an mRNA cancer vaccine succeeded, and domestic pharmaceutical and biotech stocks were also trading sharply higher on the 20th.
In New York Stock Exchange trading on the 19th local time, Moderna shares jumped 176.97% from the previous session, while Merck & Co., Inc. (MSD outside the U.S. and Canada) rose more than 12%.
The gains came after intismeran autogene, a personalized mRNA cancer vaccine jointly developed by Moderna and Merck & Co., Inc., produced positive results in a large Phase 3 trial. It is the first time an mRNA-based cancer therapy has delivered favorable results in a large Phase 3 study.
The global tailwind quickly spilled over into related Korean stocks. In particular, strong buying hit ST Pharm, which is seen as a beneficiary thanks to its contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) capabilities for mRNA active pharmaceutical ingredients, and GC Biopharma Corp., which previously handled domestic approval and distribution of Moderna's vaccine, even before the market opened.
According to the Korea Exchange, as of 9:10 a.m. on the day, ST Pharm was trading at 113,400 won, up 14.2% from the previous session. In the premarket on the alternative trading system NextTrade (NXT), it had briefly surged to the daily upper limit of 129,000 won. At the same time, GC Biopharma Corp. was also up 4.4% at 126,300 won. Other mRNA-related stocks, including Pharmicell, were also rising across the board.
Securities analysts say the trial success could mark a turning point for the commercialization of mRNA therapies, and they are watching to see whether the rally across the sector will continue.[email protected] Seong Min-seo Reporter