U.S. CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Recommends Booster Vaccination with Moderna’s COVID-19 Vaccine

Rhea-AI Summary

Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRNA) announced a recommendation from the CDC's ACIP for the use of a booster dose of its COVID-19 vaccine at a 50 µg level for individuals aged 65 and older and those aged 18-64 at high risk. This follows FDA's Emergency Use Authorization for the booster. The ACIP's unanimous vote of 15 members emphasizes the need for additional protection against COVID-19. Moderna estimates that this could lead to up to 1 billion additional doses available for distribution in 2022, enhancing its vaccine supply amid ongoing pandemic challenges.

Positive

• CDC's ACIP recommended a booster dose for key populations, supporting vaccine uptake.
• FDA granted Emergency Use Authorization for the booster dose, enabling distribution.
• Moderna estimates potential for up to 1 billion extra doses in 2022.

Negative

• None.

Recommendation follows U.S. FDA authorization for emergency use of a booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Moderna, Inc., (Nasdaq: MRNA) a biotechnology company pioneering messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics and vaccines today announced that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted today to recommend the use of a booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at the 50 µg dose level for people aged 65 and older; people aged 18 to 64 who are at high risk of severe COVID-19; and people aged 18 to 64 with frequent institutional or occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2 under the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) issued yesterday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The positive vote was unanimous with 15 ACIP members recommending the booster.

“Since we began this journey in January of 2020, our goal has been to protect as many people as possible from COVID-19. The ACIP recommendation is another step forward in our quest to address this devastating pandemic with a vaccine,” said Stéphane Bancel, Chief Executive Officer of Moderna. “We are grateful for the opportunity to provide individuals with another layer of protection against COVID-19.”

The ACIP is comprised of independent health experts. Today’s ACIP recommendation follows the FDA’s emergency use authorization for a booster dose, which was granted yesterday. This ACIP recommendation will be forwarded to the Director of the CDC and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for review and adoption. The ACIP advises the CDC on the populations and circumstances for which vaccines should be used. The Committee based its recommendation on the totality of scientific evidence shared by the company and reviewed by the FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC).

Moderna estimates that the authorization of a booster dose of mRNA-1273 at the 50 µg dose level and subsequent approval could result in up to 1 billion extra doses being available for distribution in 2022.

About Moderna

In 10 years since its inception, Moderna has transformed from a science research-stage company advancing programs in the field of messenger RNA (mRNA), to an enterprise with a diverse clinical portfolio of vaccines and therapeutics across six modalities, a broad intellectual property portfolio in areas including mRNA and lipid nanoparticle formulation, and an integrated manufacturing plant that allows for both clinical and commercial production at scale and at unprecedented speed. Moderna maintains alliances with a broad range of domestic and overseas government and commercial collaborators, which has allowed for the pursuit of both groundbreaking science and rapid scaling of manufacturing. Most recently, Moderna’s capabilities have come together to allow the authorized use of one of the earliest and most effective vaccines against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Moderna’s mRNA platform builds on continuous advances in basic and applied mRNA science, delivery technology and manufacturing, and has allowed the development of therapeutics and vaccines for infectious diseases, immuno-oncology, rare diseases, cardiovascular diseases and auto-immune diseases. Moderna has been named a top biopharmaceutical employer by Science for the past six years. To learn more, visit www.modernatx.com.

AUTHORIZED USE IN THE US

Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine is authorized for use under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for active immunization to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in individuals 18 years of age and older.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

• Do not administer the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine to individuals with a known history of severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) to any component of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine.
• Appropriate medical treatment to manage immediate allergic reactions must be immediately available in the event an acute anaphylactic reaction occurs following administration of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine. Monitor the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine recipients for the occurrence of immediate adverse reactions according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines (https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/clinical-considerations/managing-anaphylaxis.html).
• Postmarketing data demonstrate increased risks of myocarditis and pericarditis, particularly within 7 days following the second dose.
• Syncope (fainting) may occur in association with administration of injectable vaccines. Procedures should be in place to avoid injury from fainting.
• Immunocompromised persons, including individuals receiving immunosuppressive therapy, may have a diminished response to the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine
• The Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine may not protect all vaccine recipients.
• Adverse reactions reported in clinical trials following administration of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine include pain at the injection site, fatigue, headache, myalgia, arthralgia, chills, nausea/vomiting, axillary swelling/tenderness, fever, swelling at the injection site, and erythema at the injection site, and rash.
• Anaphylaxis and other severe allergic reactions, myocarditis, pericarditis, and syncope have been reported following administration of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine during mass vaccination outside of clinical trials.
• Available data on the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine administered to pregnant women are insufficient to inform vaccine-associated risks in pregnancy. Data are not available to assess the effects of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine on the breastfed infant or on milk production/excretion.
• Additional adverse reactions, some of which may be serious, may become apparent with more widespread use of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine.
• Vaccination providers must complete and submit reports to VAERS online at https://vaers.hhs.gov/reportevent.html. For further assistance with reporting to VAERS, call 1-800-822-7967. The reports should include the words “Moderna COVID- 19 Vaccine EUA” in the description section of the report.

Click for Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers Administering Vaccine (Vaccination Providers) and Full EUA Prescribing Information for more information.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including regarding: the Company’s development of a vaccine against COVID-19 (mRNA-1273); the approval of mRNA-1273 for use as a booster dose; the potential recommendation by the CDC of booster doses of mRNA-1273 at the 50 µg dose level; and the Company’s potential vaccine production in 2022. The forward-looking statements in this press release are neither promises nor guarantees, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond Moderna’s control and which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties, and other factors include those other risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” in Moderna’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and in subsequent filings made by Moderna with the SEC, which are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Except as required by law, Moderna disclaims any intention or responsibility for updating or revising any forward-looking statements contained in this press release in the event of new information, future developments or otherwise. These forward-looking statements are based on Moderna’s current expectations and speak only as of the date hereof.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211021006097/en/

Moderna

Media:

Colleen Hussey

Director, Corporate Communications

617-335-1374

Colleen.Hussey@modernatx.com

Investors:

Lavina Talukdar

Senior Vice President & Head of Investor Relations

617-209-5834

Lavina.Talukdar@modernatx.com

Source: Moderna, Inc.

FAQ

What did the CDC recommend regarding the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine booster?

The CDC's ACIP recommended a booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at the 50 µg level for individuals aged 65 and older, and individuals aged 18-64 at high risk.

When was the Emergency Use Authorization for the Moderna booster granted?

The FDA granted Emergency Use Authorization for the Moderna COVID-19 booster dose on the day before the ACIP's recommendation.

What is the potential impact of the booster authorization on Moderna's vaccine supply?

Moderna estimates that the authorization of the booster dose could lead to up to 1 billion additional doses available for distribution in 2022.

Who approved the Emergency Use Authorization for the Moderna booster?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Emergency Use Authorization for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine booster.