Moderna Inc (NASDAQ:MRNA) shares are trading higher on Wednesday on continued momentum after the company’s Tuesday update revealing the long‑term results from a cancer therapy study.
Long‑Term Data Shows Major Reduction In Melanoma Recurrence
Moderna and Merck & Co Inc (NYSE:MRK) released five‑year median follow‑up data from the Phase 2b KEYNOTE‑942/mRNA‑4157‑P201 trial, which is testing intismeran autogene (mRNA‑4157) — an individualized, mRNA‑based neoantigen therapy — when used alongside Merck's KEYTRUDA in patients with high‑risk melanoma who have undergone complete tumor removal.
According to the update, adding intismeran autogene to KEYTRUDA cut the risk of recurrence or death by 49% compared to KEYTRUDA alone. The combination continued to show durable and meaningful improvements in recurrence‑free survival, the study's primary goal.
The safety profile remained in line with earlier findings, and the companies said they plan to share additional follow‑up data at an upcoming medical conference.
Moderna and Merck now have eight Phase 2 and Phase 3 trials underway across several cancer types, including melanoma, non‑small cell lung cancer, bladder cancer and renal cell carcinoma. Enrollment for the Phase 3 adjuvant melanoma study is already complete.
MRNA Trades Above Key Levels
The stock is currently trading 37.5% above its 20-day simple moving average (SMA) and 72.5% above its 100-day SMA, demonstrating strong upward momentum. Shares have increased 33.45% over the past 12 months and are currently positioned closer to their 52-week highs than lows.
The RSI is at 74.26, indicating that the stock is in overbought territory, which may suggest a potential pullback. Meanwhile, MACD is above its signal line, reinforcing the bullish trend.
The combination of an overbought RSI and bullish MACD suggests strong momentum, but traders should remain cautious of potential corrections.
- Key Resistance: $50.00
- Key Support: $45.00
Analyst Consensus & Recent Actions
The stock carries a Hold Rating with an average price target of $36.59. Recent analyst moves include:
- UBS: Upgraded to Neutral (Lowered Target to $34.00) (Jan. 7)
- Morgan Stanley: Equal-Weight (Lowered Target to $28.00) (Dec. 12, 2025)
- Jefferies: Initiated with Hold (Target $30.00) (Dec. 12, 2025)
Benzinga Edge Rankings
Below is the Benzinga Edge scorecard for Moderna, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses compared to the broader market:
- Momentum: Bullish (Score: 81.46/100) — Stock is outperforming the broader market.
The Verdict: Moderna’s Benzinga Edge signal reveals a strong momentum setup. While the stock shows positive trends, investors should be mindful of the overbought conditions indicated by the RSI.
MRNA Price Action: Moderna shares were up 11.67% at $48.02 at the time of publication on Wednesday. The stock is trading at a new 52-week high, according to Benzinga Pro.
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