Moderna Has Some Key Approvals Ahead. Is the Stock a Buy?
Moderna (MRNA) has doubled this year as its mRNA pipeline advances beyond COVID-19, with two critical regulatory milestones on the horizon. The FDA is slated to decide on mFlusiva, the company's standalone flu vaccine, by August 5, 2026. Meanwhile, the European Commission has already approved mCOMBRIX, a combination flu-COVID shot that expands Moderna's addressable market in Europe.
The biggest catalyst remains oncology. Moderna expects phase 3 data for mRNA-4157, its cancer vaccine candidate, later in 2026—a potential inflection point for the platform's broader therapeutic applications.
First-quarter 2026 revenue jumped 260% year-over-year, though the company remains unprofitable. Moderna holds $7.5 billion in cash and management is targeting company-wide breakeven by 2028, giving the biotech runway to commercialize its pipeline without immediate financing pressure.
The stock has rerated sharply on pipeline momentum, but profitability and commercial execution for non-COVID products remain unproven.