Moderna Gets Clearance To Deliver Updated Spikevax COVID-19 Vaccine In Canada

Moderna announced on Friday that its updated COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, Spikevax, has received authorization in Canada for those aged six months and older.

The company said that it is on track to deliver the updated vaccine in the Canadian market in time for the 2025-2026 vaccination season this fall. The firm added that the pre-filled syringe doses of the vaccine for the market will be made domestically. While the drug substance will be produced at the company’s facility in Laval, Quebec, fill-finish operations will be completed by Novocol Pharma in Cambridge, Ontario.

On Stocktwits, retail sentiment around Moderna jumped from ‘neutral’ to ‘bullish’ territory over the past 24 hours, while message volume stayed at ‘low’ levels. Shares of the company traded 5% higher on Friday morning at the time of writing.

Health Canada authorized the vaccine based on clinical, non-clinical, and real-world data supporting the vaccine’s safety and efficacy, Moderna said. The updated vaccine targets the SARS-CoV-2 LP.8.1 variant.

While those Canadians covered by public programs will receive the vaccine free of charge, the company is also working with private insurers and payers to streamline access and reimbursement within the private sector, it said. The updated COVID-19 vaccine has already been approved by regulators in Europe, Japan, Switzerland, and other countries. Applications are also under review in other markets.

In the second quarter, Moderna reported $114 million in Spikevax sales, including $88 million of U.S. sales and $26 million of international sales. Spikevax sales accounted for 80% of the company’s total revenue in the three months through the end of June.

MRNA stock is down by 34% this year and by about 66% over the past 12 months.

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