Moderna discontinues its cytomegalovirus vaccine development after Phase 3 trial shows only 6-23% efficacy, missing targets for preventing congenital birth defects in a major setback for the biotech company.
Novavax's second-largest shareholder Shah Capital pushes for company sale, citing poor COVID vaccine sales and untapped potential worth $5 billion under larger pharma ownership.
New COVID vaccines from Moderna & Pfizer show strong protection against the dominant LP.8.1 variant. Moderna's Spikevax (for high-risk 6mo-64yrs & all 65+) boosted antibodies 8x. Pfizer's also effective. No new safety issues found.
Trump officials plan to link COVID vaccines to 25 child deaths using unverified VAERS data. This news dropped vaccine makers' shares. HHS calls it "pure speculation", while Moderna states its vaccine is rigorously monitored with no new safety concerns.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s regulatory changes cause a rocky COVID vaccine rollout with narrowed FDA approval (65+, high risk). Pfizer's new data shows good LP.8.1 protection. A key CDC meeting on Sept. 18 will address access & coverage, amidst plummeting sales.
