Moderna Surges Over 140% After Merck mRNA Cancer Vaccine Scores Historic Phase 3 Win

Moderna shares rocketed more than 140% and Merck gained roughly 12% on August 19 after the two companies reported the first-ever positive Phase 3 result for an individualized mRNA cancer vaccine. The trial, called INTerpath-001, enrolled 1,137 patients with stage IIB to IV melanoma and tested a personalized vaccine, co-developed with Merck's KEYTRUDA, that encodes up to 34 tumor-specific neoantigens tailored to each patient. Results showed improved recurrence-free and distant metastasis-free survival, marking a milestone for mRNA technology beyond infectious disease.

The rally carried into Friday August 21, where Moderna shares remained elevated. Broader market signals on that day were mixed: the 1-day VIX stayed low under 13, the 10-year Treasury yield stood at 4.69%, and the overnight VIX was 15.45. Indian equities posted a modest weekly loss, with the BSE Sensex falling 468 points, or 0.60%, to 77,540.83 and the Nifty 50 slipping 114 points, or 0.47%, to 24,252.00, weighed by elevated crude prices between 87 and 93 dollars per barrel and cautious foreign institutional investor positioning.

BJ's Wholesale Club also surged Friday after reporting second-quarter fiscal 2026 results showing comparable club sales up 11.9% year-over-year, membership fee income rising 9.9% to 135.6 million dollars, and a record member count of 8.5 million, with the company raising its full-year adjusted EPS guidance. MARA Holdings shares jumped alongside bitcoin-related names. Markets are now looking ahead to Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh's speech at Jackson Hole on August 28 at 10 a.m.

ET, where investors expect commentary on the economy, long-term yields, and Fed independence.