MRNA Begins Dosing in Pivotal Study on Norovirus Vaccine

Group 1: Moderna's Norovirus Vaccine Study - Moderna has initiated the phase III Nova 301 study for its mRNA norovirus vaccine candidate, mRNA-1403, with the first participant dosed in the United States [1] - The study aims to enroll approximately 25,000 participants globally, focusing on older adults at higher risk of norovirus infection [2][3] - Norovirus is highly contagious and a leading cause of diarrheal disease, resulting in around 200,000 deaths annually [3] Group 2: Partnership in Taiwan - Moderna has entered a joint agreement with Cenra Healthcare to promote its mRNA respiratory vaccine portfolio in Taiwan, including the COVID-19 vaccine, Spikevax [4] - Moderna will handle the manufacturing and distribution of the vaccines, while Cenra Healthcare will manage promotion and education activities [5] Group 3: Stock Performance and Rankings - Moderna's shares have decreased by 32.8% this year, contrasting with a 1.8% decline in the industry [2] - Currently, Moderna holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), while other biotech stocks like ANI Pharmaceuticals, Krystal Biotech, and Fulcrum Therapeutics have higher rankings [6]