Moderna Reports Antibody Formation in COVID-19 Vaccine Clinical Trials... Global Stock Markets Surge

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] A U.S. biotech company has succeeded in producing 'antibody formation' results, indicating immunity, in clinical trials of a novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine. As expectations grow that this brings vaccine development one step closer, global stock markets surged sharply.

According to CNBC and others on the 18th (local time), biotech company Moderna announced the results of a Phase 1 clinical trial of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate (mRNA-1273) involving 45 male and female participants aged 18 to 55, reporting that all 45 participants developed COVID-19 antibodies. Moderna divided the participants into three groups of 15 each and administered the vaccine candidate at doses of 25㎍, 100㎍, and 250㎍ twice with a 28-day interval. About two weeks later, antibody formation was checked.

As a result, Moderna stated that the group given 25㎍ developed antibodies at levels similar to those who had been infected with COVID-19 and recovered. Additionally, the 100㎍ group produced antibody levels significantly exceeding those of recovered COVID-19 patients. Notably, at least eight trial participants?four in the 25㎍ group and four in the 100㎍ group?also developed neutralizing antibodies that can inactivate the virus.

Moderna's Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Tal Zaks, said, "Although these are preliminary results from the Phase 1 clinical trial, they show that 'mRNA-1273' can elicit an immune response at the level formed by COVID-19 infection with just a 25㎍ dose."

Moderna expects to release the vaccine as early as the beginning of next year after further clinical trials. The company announced that on the 7th, it received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a Phase 2 clinical trial of mRNA-1273 and plans to start the Phase 2 trial soon with 600 participants. It also explained that the Phase 3 clinical trial, conducted by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, is expected to begin in July.

Following the news of Moderna's clinical trial results, stock markets surged. This is interpreted as reflecting the market's recognition that vaccine development is key to economic recovery. On the U.S. New York Stock Exchange, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 24,597.37, up 3.85% (911.95 points) from the previous session. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq indices also rose 3.15% and 2.44%, closing at 2,953.91 and 9,234.83, respectively. CNBC reported that the Dow and S&P indices recorded their largest gains since early April. Moderna's stock price soared 20%.

On the same day, European stock markets including the Euro Stoxx 50, France's CAC 40, and Germany's DAX also closed with gains exceeding 5%.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.