Stéphane Bancel

Stories

The first personalized cancer vaccine reaches pivotal testing

Said Moderna was finishing a regulatory filing after the Phase 3 win

Cancer vaccines have promised to train the immune system against tumors for decades. None has delivered a durable, replicable benefit until now.

Updated Oct 25

Moderna's norovirus vaccine misses an early-success mark in Phase 3

New Capabilities

As of July 2026: Defending the pipeline and a 10% revenue growth target

Norovirus makes about 20 million Americans sick each year, and no vaccine has ever been approved to stop it. Moderna's shot is the furthest along. On July 31, 2026, the company said that shot fell short of the bar for early success in its big trial.

Updated Jul 31

Therapeutic cancer vaccines emerge from decades of development

New Capabilities

As of July 2026: Leading Moderna's oncology pipeline

Metastatic breast cancer typically kills most patients within five years. A small group of women vaccinated in a Duke University clinical trial two decades ago have defied that prognosis entirely; all remain alive today. Researchers found these survivors still carry specialized immune cells that recognize their cancer, offering a model for why some therapeutic vaccines produce lasting results.

Updated Jul 9

Moderna's mRNA flu vaccine clears Phase 3 with superior efficacy

New Capabilities

As of May 2026: Pushing mRNA-1010 through a hostile US regulatory environment

For 80 years, flu vaccines grew in chicken eggs — a process effective against roughly 40% of infections in good years. On May 8, the New England Journal of Medicine published Moderna's Phase 3 data: mRNA-1010 reduced influenza illness by 26.6% more than a standard shot in 40,805 adults aged 50 and older. Moderna's stock rose 16% that day.

Updated May 31

Moderna's battle over the delivery technology in its COVID vaccine

Rule Changes

As of May 2026: Led settlement decision

For four years, Moderna faced questions about whether it owed billions for technology at the heart of its COVID-19 vaccine. Less than a week before a jury trial in Delaware, Moderna agreed to pay $2.25 billion to settle patent claims from Arbutus Biopharma and Genevant Sciences. The court found it infringed four valid patents, and if paid in full, it would be the largest disclosed patent settlement in pharmaceutical history, surpassing a $2.15 billion Pfizer-Takeda settlement in 2013.

Updated May 30

Notable Quotes

"We used to call it personalized cancer vaccine. But what we do is one step further—we design a medicine just for you." — ASCO 2024

from The first personalized cancer vaccine reaches pivotal testing · Updated Oct 25

"You cannot make a return on investment if you don't have access to the US market." — On vaccine development strategy, January 2026

from The first personalized cancer vaccine reaches pivotal testing · Updated Oct 25

"The publication of these peer-reviewed positive results in the New England Journal of Medicine reflects the strength of the clinical evidence supporting our ongoing regulatory submissions."

from Moderna's mRNA flu vaccine clears Phase 3 with superior efficacy · Updated May 31

"Resolving this legacy matter from our pandemic response removes uncertainty and allows us to turn our full focus to Moderna's exciting near-term future. In 2026, we will return to revenue growth and end the year with a strong balance sheet, with more than $5 billion in liquidity, as we drive toward breakeven in 2028." — Statement on March 3, 2026

from Moderna's battle over the delivery technology in its COVID vaccine · Updated May 30