Melanoma Vaccine Shows Promise, Moderna Shares Jump
Listen to the story
A new vaccine against melanoma, a serious form of skin cancer, has shown very promising results in clinical trials. The vaccine has been developed by the pharmaceutical company Moderna, and it is described as personalized, meaning it is made individually for each patient based on their own tumor.
The vaccine uses mRNA technology, the same method used in several Covid-19 vaccines. It has now successfully completed phase III trials, the final and most important stage of testing before a new treatment can be approved for wider use. Positive phase III results are seen as strong evidence that the vaccine actually works.
Following the announcement, Moderna's share price rose dramatically, increasing by 102% on the stock exchange. This huge jump happened on Wall Street, the main financial market in the United States, while European stock markets remained more uncertain about the day's overall direction.
The news also had an effect beyond Moderna itself. The price of gold rose as well, linked partly to a buyback operation by the US Treasury. Investors around the world are now paying close attention to Moderna, since this could become the first personalized mRNA cancer vaccine to reach the market.
If approved, the vaccine could represent a major step forward in cancer treatment, offering new hope to melanoma patients. Analysts say the strong market reaction reflects investor confidence in the science behind personalized cancer vaccines.
Vocabulary10 words
- vaccine
- a medicine that protects the body against a disease
- melanoma
- a dangerous type of skin cancer
- personalized
- made specially to fit one person's needs
- mRNA
- a technology used to make some modern vaccines
- phase III
- the final large-scale test of a new medicine
- share price
- the cost of one small part of a company
- stock exchange
- a market where company shares are bought and sold
- Wall Street
- the main financial market area in New York
- gold
- a valuable metal often bought during uncertain times
- buyback
- when an organization buys back something it sold before
Quiz
Answer key
1. A personalized mRNA vaccine against melanoma 2. 102% 3. Uncertain
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
A new _____ against melanoma, a serious form of skin cancer, has shown very promising results in clinical trials. The vaccine has been developed by the pharmaceutical company Moderna, and it is described as _____.
The vaccine uses _____ technology, the same method used in several Covid-19 vaccines. It has now successfully completed _____ trials, the final and most important stage of testing.
Following the announcement, Moderna's _____ rose dramatically, increasing by _____% on the stock exchange. This huge jump happened on _____.
The news also had an effect beyond Moderna itself. The price of _____ rose as well, linked partly to a _____ operation by the US Treasury.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think investors reacted so strongly to the vaccine news?
- What are the possible benefits of a personalized cancer vaccine compared to a standard one?
- Why might positive medical news for one company also affect other markets, like gold prices?
- Would you feel confident taking a new mRNA-based cancer vaccine? Why or why not?