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Moderna Jumps on Hantavirus Cruise-Ship Cluster as U.S. Repatriates 17 Citizens

Analysts warn the rally overstates the market for any hantavirus product.

Overview

  • Moderna shares rose roughly 9% to 12% in Monday premarket trading after health officials reported a mildly positive Andes hantavirus case tied to the MV Hondius.
  • The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said 17 American passengers are being flown home, with two traveling in biocontainment and one showing mild symptoms.
  • The World Health Organization reported eight cases, including five confirmed hantavirus infections and three deaths, and said the broader public-health risk is low.
  • Moderna said it has ongoing preclinical hantavirus research with the U.S. Army’s infectious-disease institute and Korea University, and noted the work began before the cruise-ship cases.
  • Evercore ISI told clients the stock move looks driven by sentiment and sees little revenue from hantavirus, even as Inovio, Novavax, and Emergent Biosolutions also gained in early trading.