TLDR
- Moderna stock jumped more than 14% after a report on a new national cancer research push.
- The National Institutes of Health reportedly plans to launch a cancer vaccine program in December.
- The effort aims to copy the fast-track model used during Covid-19 vaccine development.
- Moderna already has encouraging trial data from its mRNA cancer therapy with Merck.
- Moderna shares also hit a 52-week high this week as it joins the Nasdaq-100 Index.
Moderna stock climbed more than 14% on Friday. The move came after a report that a major new cancer research initiative is in the works.
The stock traded as high as $225.00 during the session. That marked a fresh 52-week high for the company.
The New York Times reported that the National Institutes of Health plans to launch a campaign in December. The goal is to fast-track cancer treatment research.
The program is modeled on the public-private push that sped up Covid-19 vaccine development. It would pull together researchers from drug companies and nonprofits.
What the Program Will Focus On
Early research under the initiative is expected to target pancreatic, liver, and colorectal cancer. Pediatric tumors are also on the list.
$MRNA is up 11% today to a new 52-week high, and it’s now the best-performing S&P 500 stock of 2026 at 640% YTD!
Moderna officially joined the Nasdaq-100 this morning, replacing Warner Bros. Discovery, so the index funds tracking it had to buy
The NYT also reported the NIH is… https://t.co/fJJXKwfIs0 pic.twitter.com/CJQ1aie2gu
— Kyle Reidhead | Milk Road (@KyleReidhead) October 9, 2026
Moderna is seen as a likely partner given its mRNA platform. The company has spent years building tools that could apply directly to this kind of research.
Advances in artificial intelligence are also playing a role. AI is helping researchers design cancer treatments tailored to a patient’s own immune system.
That combination of AI and mRNA technology is why Moderna keeps coming up in these conversations. The company has the infrastructure already in place.
Recent Trial Results Add to the Story
In August, Moderna and Merck shared new data on their combined cancer therapy. The treatment pairs Moderna’s mRNA-based therapy with Merck’s Keytruda.
The combination increased the time before cancer returned or spread in patients with high-risk melanoma. That trial result has already drawn attention from analysts.
Despite the rally, not everyone is convinced the stock is cheap. InvestingPro analysis flags Moderna as overvalued at current levels.
The stock has climbed 657% over the past year. That run has been driven by a mix of vaccine demand and renewed interest in its cancer pipeline.
Analyst views remain mixed. Bernstein has a Market Perform rating on the stock, while UBS rates it Neutral.
UBS said it is waiting on Phase III melanoma trial results before shifting its view. Bernstein pointed to the long-term potential of Moderna’s mRNA therapeutics platform.
Separately, Moderna is set to join the Nasdaq-100 Index on October 9. It replaces Warner Bros. Discovery following that company’s acquisition by Paramount-Skydance.
Moderna also faces ongoing legal pressure. A federal judge in Delaware recently declined to dismiss patent lawsuits filed by Bayer’s Monsanto unit against Moderna, Pfizer, and BioNTech over mRNA technology.
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