The AI Pharma Surge Is Genuine — Cancer Could Soon Become Chronic Instead of Fatal
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Nov 26 2025
0mins
Source: Benzinga
Pharma Sector Growth: Pharma stocks are experiencing a significant rally, with the Tema Oncology ETF up 45% year-to-date, driven by structural changes in the sector and increasing demand for innovative treatments, particularly in oncology.
Regulatory Clarity and M&A Activity: The regulatory environment is improving, leading to a surge in mergers and acquisitions within the healthcare sector, as companies seek to adapt to rising healthcare demands and replace revenue from expiring patents.
AI's Role in Drug Discovery: Artificial intelligence is enhancing the efficiency of drug discovery processes, making them cheaper and faster, although it has not yet taken over the discovery of new molecules.
Future of Cancer Treatment: Innovations such as gene editing and potential cancer vaccines could transform cancer from a deadly disease into a manageable chronic condition, with companies like Merck and Moderna leading the charge in this area.
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Analyst Views on MRNA
Wall Street analysts forecast MRNA stock price to fall
20 Analyst Rating
1 Buy
16 Hold
3 Sell
Hold
Current: 47.260
Low
17.00
Averages
32.47
High
63.00
Current: 47.260
Low
17.00
Averages
32.47
High
63.00
About MRNA
Moderna, Inc. is a biotechnology company advancing a new class of medicines made of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA). It is engaged in developing medicines across infectious disease vaccines, oncology therapeutics and rare disease therapeutics. Its platform incorporates advances across three components, mRNA, delivery, and the manufacturing process, to advance its medicines. Its products are Spikevax and mNEXSPIKE (its COVID vaccines), and mRESVIA (its vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)). It also has a diverse development pipeline that consists of 35 therapeutic and vaccine programs, six of which are in late-stage development. It has regulatory filings under review for its seasonal flu+COVID vaccine (mRNA-1083) in Europe and Canada and for its seasonal flu vaccine (mRNA-1010) in the United States, Europe, Canada and Australia. Its rare disease programs are Propionic acidemia (mRNA-3927); Methylmalonic acidemia (mRNA-3705), and Cystic Fibrosis (mRNA-3692/VX-522).
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Workday and Lumentum Options Trading Active
- Workday Options Volume: Today, Workday Inc's options volume reached 24,792 contracts, representing approximately 2.5 million shares, which is 52.2% of its average daily trading volume of 4.8 million shares over the past month, indicating strong market interest in its future performance.
- High Put Option Activity: Within Workday, the $111 strike put option has seen particularly high activity, with 3,532 contracts traded today, equating to about 353,200 underlying shares, suggesting investor expectations of potential price declines.
- Lumentum Options Volume: Similarly, Lumentum Holdings Inc's options trading is robust, with 29,245 contracts traded, representing approximately 2.9 million shares, which accounts for 47% of its average daily trading volume of 6.2 million shares over the past month, reflecting strong market interest in its stock.
- Put Option Trading Details: For Lumentum, the $800 strike put option has recorded a trading volume of 1,375 contracts today, representing about 137,500 underlying shares, highlighting investor focus on potential price fluctuations ahead.
See More
Moderna's Flu Vaccine Approval Faces New Setback
- FDA Hearing Scheduled: The U.S. FDA plans to hold a Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee meeting on June 18 to discuss Moderna's mRNA-1010 flu vaccine, just weeks ahead of the August 5 target date for approval, adding uncertainty to the approval process.
- Application Rejection and Reversal: Although the FDA rejected Moderna's biologics license application in February, it reversed its decision a week later, highlighting the complexity and volatility of the approval process, which has impacted investor confidence.
- Market Reaction: Following the FDA's announcement of the hearing, Moderna's shares fell over 2% on Thursday, reflecting market concerns about the vaccine's approval prospects, despite the stock gaining over 82% in the past 12 months.
- Vaccine Launch Plans: Moderna aims to make the vaccine available for adults aged 50 and older in time for the 2026-27 flu season, indicating the company's focus on the market potential among older demographics while facing regulatory challenges.
See More
Moderna's Flu Vaccine Application Set for FDA Review
- FDA Review Meeting Scheduled: Moderna's marketing application for its flu vaccine, mRNA-1010, will be reviewed by independent FDA experts next month, with the meeting set for June 18, marking a significant advancement in the company's vaccine development.
- Biologics License Application Accepted: In February, the FDA accepted Moderna's biologics license application, reversing a prior decision to refuse review, indicating a renewed assessment of the vaccine's potential by the regulatory body.
- Target Action Date Established: The FDA has set August 5, 2026, as the target action date related to the biologics license application, aiming to provide vaccination for adults aged 50 and older for the 2026/2027 flu season.
- Clinical Trial Data Requirements: The FDA previously issued a refusal-to-file letter due to a lack of data from an 'adequate and well-controlled' clinical trial, underscoring the stringent data requirements that must be met before vaccine approval.
See More
CDC Immunization Committee Charter Rescinded
- Charter Rescission Reason: The HHS announced the rescission of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices charter due to an administrative error in meeting revised public notification timing requirements under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, necessitating the re-establishment of the committee and highlighting management failures.
- Committee Member Changes: In June 2025, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dismissed all 17 committee members at the time and replaced them with his chosen individuals with minimal scrutiny, raising concerns about the transparency of the committee's operations.
- Court Ruling Impact: A federal judge's stay in March 2023 on the appointment of Kennedy's 13 new ACIP members and the proposed changes to the childhood vaccination schedule illustrates the tension between political and public health policies.
- Complex Political Context: The Trump administration has appealed this ruling, reflecting the contentious nature of current vaccination policies and their potential impact on public health, while also underscoring the significant role of political factors in healthcare decision-making.
See More
Anti-Vaccine Bills Fail Amid Public Health Advocacy
- Anti-Vaccine Bill Failures: Dozens of anti-vaccine bills backed by the 'Make America Healthy Again' coalition have failed, indicating limited political power among supporters and showcasing the effectiveness of public health advocacy.
- Public Support for Vaccination: A February poll revealed that a bipartisan majority of Americans favor school vaccination mandates and view vaccines as safe for children, which has hindered the progress of anti-vaccine legislation in several states.
- Legislative Dynamics Shift: Despite a surge in anti-vaccine bills, particularly in states like Idaho and West Virginia, none have passed, underscoring the prioritization of public health policies over anti-vaccine initiatives.
- Future Legislative Expectations: Both public health advocates and anti-vaccine proponents anticipate ongoing debates over vaccine policies in state legislatures, suggesting that the influence of the anti-vaccine movement is rising and may lead to more proposed legislation.
See More
Biologics Sector Rapidly Emerging as Growth Leader
- Biologics Innovation: HCW Biologics is advancing HCW9302, a first-in-class IL-2 fusion protein targeting autoimmune diseases, with preliminary clinical data expected in the first half of 2026, potentially improving patient tolerability and reducing side effects.
- Massive Market Potential: Totaligent's planned acquisition of Aetherium Medical aims to connect biologics companies with APAC healthcare networks, with projections indicating the global medical tourism market could approach $274 billion by 2032, led by Asia-Pacific growth.
- Integration of Technologies: The convergence of biologics and artificial intelligence is accelerating drug development, with Moderna's mRNA platform demonstrating how programmable biologic therapies can be developed at unprecedented speed, establishing itself as an industry benchmark.
- Optimized Regulatory Environment: Japan's fast-track approval framework allows conditional commercialization of regenerative medicine and cell therapies, significantly shortening time-to-market and attracting substantial investor interest.
See More
Workday and Lumentum Options Trading Active
- Workday Options Volume: Today, Workday Inc's options volume reached 24,792 contracts, representing approximately 2.5 million shares, which is 52.2% of its average daily trading volume of 4.8 million shares over the past month, indicating strong market interest in its future performance.
- High Put Option Activity: Within Workday, the $111 strike put option has seen particularly high activity, with 3,532 contracts traded today, equating to about 353,200 underlying shares, suggesting investor expectations of potential price declines.
- Lumentum Options Volume: Similarly, Lumentum Holdings Inc's options trading is robust, with 29,245 contracts traded, representing approximately 2.9 million shares, which accounts for 47% of its average daily trading volume of 6.2 million shares over the past month, reflecting strong market interest in its stock.
- Put Option Trading Details: For Lumentum, the $800 strike put option has recorded a trading volume of 1,375 contracts today, representing about 137,500 underlying shares, highlighting investor focus on potential price fluctuations ahead.
See More
Moderna's Flu Vaccine Approval Faces New Setback
- FDA Hearing Scheduled: The U.S. FDA plans to hold a Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee meeting on June 18 to discuss Moderna's mRNA-1010 flu vaccine, just weeks ahead of the August 5 target date for approval, adding uncertainty to the approval process.
- Application Rejection and Reversal: Although the FDA rejected Moderna's biologics license application in February, it reversed its decision a week later, highlighting the complexity and volatility of the approval process, which has impacted investor confidence.
- Market Reaction: Following the FDA's announcement of the hearing, Moderna's shares fell over 2% on Thursday, reflecting market concerns about the vaccine's approval prospects, despite the stock gaining over 82% in the past 12 months.
- Vaccine Launch Plans: Moderna aims to make the vaccine available for adults aged 50 and older in time for the 2026-27 flu season, indicating the company's focus on the market potential among older demographics while facing regulatory challenges.
See More
Moderna's Flu Vaccine Application Set for FDA Review
- FDA Review Meeting Scheduled: Moderna's marketing application for its flu vaccine, mRNA-1010, will be reviewed by independent FDA experts next month, with the meeting set for June 18, marking a significant advancement in the company's vaccine development.
- Biologics License Application Accepted: In February, the FDA accepted Moderna's biologics license application, reversing a prior decision to refuse review, indicating a renewed assessment of the vaccine's potential by the regulatory body.
- Target Action Date Established: The FDA has set August 5, 2026, as the target action date related to the biologics license application, aiming to provide vaccination for adults aged 50 and older for the 2026/2027 flu season.
- Clinical Trial Data Requirements: The FDA previously issued a refusal-to-file letter due to a lack of data from an 'adequate and well-controlled' clinical trial, underscoring the stringent data requirements that must be met before vaccine approval.
See More
CDC Immunization Committee Charter Rescinded
- Charter Rescission Reason: The HHS announced the rescission of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices charter due to an administrative error in meeting revised public notification timing requirements under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, necessitating the re-establishment of the committee and highlighting management failures.
- Committee Member Changes: In June 2025, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dismissed all 17 committee members at the time and replaced them with his chosen individuals with minimal scrutiny, raising concerns about the transparency of the committee's operations.
- Court Ruling Impact: A federal judge's stay in March 2023 on the appointment of Kennedy's 13 new ACIP members and the proposed changes to the childhood vaccination schedule illustrates the tension between political and public health policies.
- Complex Political Context: The Trump administration has appealed this ruling, reflecting the contentious nature of current vaccination policies and their potential impact on public health, while also underscoring the significant role of political factors in healthcare decision-making.
See More
Anti-Vaccine Bills Fail Amid Public Health Advocacy
- Anti-Vaccine Bill Failures: Dozens of anti-vaccine bills backed by the 'Make America Healthy Again' coalition have failed, indicating limited political power among supporters and showcasing the effectiveness of public health advocacy.
- Public Support for Vaccination: A February poll revealed that a bipartisan majority of Americans favor school vaccination mandates and view vaccines as safe for children, which has hindered the progress of anti-vaccine legislation in several states.
- Legislative Dynamics Shift: Despite a surge in anti-vaccine bills, particularly in states like Idaho and West Virginia, none have passed, underscoring the prioritization of public health policies over anti-vaccine initiatives.
- Future Legislative Expectations: Both public health advocates and anti-vaccine proponents anticipate ongoing debates over vaccine policies in state legislatures, suggesting that the influence of the anti-vaccine movement is rising and may lead to more proposed legislation.
See More
Biologics Sector Rapidly Emerging as Growth Leader
- Biologics Innovation: HCW Biologics is advancing HCW9302, a first-in-class IL-2 fusion protein targeting autoimmune diseases, with preliminary clinical data expected in the first half of 2026, potentially improving patient tolerability and reducing side effects.
- Massive Market Potential: Totaligent's planned acquisition of Aetherium Medical aims to connect biologics companies with APAC healthcare networks, with projections indicating the global medical tourism market could approach $274 billion by 2032, led by Asia-Pacific growth.
- Integration of Technologies: The convergence of biologics and artificial intelligence is accelerating drug development, with Moderna's mRNA platform demonstrating how programmable biologic therapies can be developed at unprecedented speed, establishing itself as an industry benchmark.
- Optimized Regulatory Environment: Japan's fast-track approval framework allows conditional commercialization of regenerative medicine and cell therapies, significantly shortening time-to-market and attracting substantial investor interest.
See More
