mRNA Vaccine For Birth Defects Didn't Work Well, Won't Be Continued: Moderna

Moderna, a relatively new company, recently announced the failure of its mRNA vaccine for cytomegalovirus (CMV) in a phase 3 clinical trial. The vaccine, aimed at preventing CMV infection in women of childbearing age, did not meet its primary efficacy endpoint. CMV can be passed from pregnant mothers to babies, potentially causing birth defects and long-term health issues. The vaccine's efficacy ranged between 6% and 23%, falling short of the desired outcome. Consequently, Moderna has decided to discontinue its CMV vaccine program, mRNA-1647. The company expressed disappointment but noted the vaccine's safety profile was consistent with earlier studies. However, Moderna will continue exploring the vaccine's potential for bone marrow transplant patients through an ongoing phase 2 study. This study aims to suppress CMV-related disease associated with reactivation in high-risk patients. Moderna anticipates no significant impact on its 2025 financial outlook due to the trial failure. The company still expects to reach break-even in 2028.