Moderna and Novavax Surge Over 5% and 6% Respectively on CDC Report of Rising Respiratory Illness

Moderna (MRNA) and Novavax (NVAX) shares surged over 5% and 6% respectively on Tuesday, following a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that highlighted the rising prevalence of respiratory illnesses in the United States. The CDC report indicated that unvaccinated individuals had a significantly higher risk of testing positive for COVID-19, being hospitalized, and dying from the virus compared to those who had received a primary series and booster dose.

The surge in shares of these vaccine makers can be attributed to the increased demand for vaccines and treatments as respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, influenza, and RSV, continue to rise nationwide. The CDC report serves as a reminder of the ongoing threat of respiratory illnesses and the importance of vaccination in preventing severe illness and death.

Moderna, which is developing a vaccine for H5N1, the bird flu strain responsible for the recent death, saw its shares lead the charge, surging more than 10% to $48.48 in early trading on Tuesday. Novavax, a recombinant spike protein nanoparticle vaccine with Matrix-M adjuvant, also saw its shares rise, gaining 4.5% to $138.32. CureVac (CVAC), another vaccine maker, saw a 6.4% increase to $4.46.

Novo Nordisk (NVO) experienced a decline, however, after President-elect Trump threatened tariffs on Denmark if it refused to hand over Greenland, where Novo Nordisk operates. The Danish pharmaceutical company's shares dropped 2.3% to $67.29.

WuXi Biologics (WX) agreed to sell a vaccine facility to Merck (MRK) for $500 million, further boosting the healthcare sector. The deal is expected to enhance Merck's capabilities in the development and production of vaccines.

In addition to bird flu, other respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19, influenza, and RSV are also at high levels and increasing nationwide. This has further fueled the demand for vaccines and treatments, benefiting the healthcare sector as a whole.




In conclusion, the surge in Moderna and Novavax shares reflects the increased demand for vaccines and treatments as respiratory illnesses continue to rise in the United States. The CDC report serves as a reminder of the ongoing threat of respiratory illnesses and the importance of vaccination in preventing severe illness and death. As the healthcare sector continues to grow, investors can expect to see more biotech companies listing on the stock market, such as Upstream Bio, which is planning an IPO to raise funds for its inflammatory respiratory disease therapy verekitug.