MRNA, INO, SABS, NVAX Stocks Jump Premarket: Deadly Hantavirus Reaches US After Cruise Ship Outbreak

• The outbreak has been linked to at least six confirmed infections and three deaths, according to the WHO.
• The Andes strain is one of the few hantavirus variants associated with limited person-to-person transmission.
• MRNA, INO, NVAX, and SABS gained attention due to their respective vaccine and antibody programs for infectious diseases, including hantavirus research.

A rare hantavirus outbreak with reported potential for person-to-person transmission reignited Wall Street's outbreak-response trade on Monday. 

MRNA stock rose 6%, U.S.-listed shares of NVAX and SABS climbed 2%, while INO jumped 12% in premarket trading after U.S. officials confirmed an evacuated American passenger tested positive for the Andes strain. 

Cruise Ship Outbreak Reaches The U.S.

The outbreak aboard the Dutch-flagged MV Hondius moved closer to the U.S. over the weekend after the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services confirmed that one evacuated American passenger tested mildly positive for the Andes strain of hantavirus. A second passenger also developed mild symptoms. Both symptomatic passengers were transported in biocontainment units during the evacuation flight. The returning U.S. passengers are expected to undergo evaluation at specialized treatment centers in Nebraska.

The outbreak has drawn attention after multiple passengers became infected during the ship’s trip from Argentina to Europe. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at least six infections from the outbreak have been confirmed, while three passengers have died. 

The virus involved is the Andes strain of Hantavirus, one of the few variants associated with limited person-to-person transmission. Severe cases can lead to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a respiratory illness with high fatality rates. However, the public risk remains low since the virus does not spread as easily as influenza or COVID-19.

Moderna Flags Early Hantavirus Work 

Moderna moved back into focus after confirming that it has ongoing early-stage research tied to hantavirus vaccines. The company said it has worked with the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases on hantavirus research and is also collaborating with Korea University’s Vaccine Innovation Center on a potential vaccine program. Moderna noted that the work began before the recent cruise ship outbreak emerged.

“These efforts are early-stage and ongoing and reflect Moderna’s broader responsibility to develop countermeasures against emerging infectious diseases,” the company told Bloomberg. Investors have long viewed Moderna as one of the leading outbreak-response companies on the back of its mRNA platform, which also gained traction during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company also said its mRNA tech can potentially shorten vaccine development timelines during outbreaks compared with older manufacturing methods that can take months.

INO, SABS, NVAX Stocks Draw Attention

Inovio Pharmaceuticals also attracted attention due to its previous work on DNA vaccines targeting multiple hantavirus strains, including the Andes variant linked to the current outbreak. Several of the company’s earlier studies were supported by the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the U.S. Army. However, none of the programs advanced into commercial vaccines.

SAB Biotherapeutics remained in focus as well because of its earlier development of SAB-163, a broad hantavirus antibody therapy. Preclinical studies previously showed activity against multiple hantavirus strains, including Andes and Sin Nombre viruses.

Meanwhile, Novavax joined the rally as traders rotated back into companies related to infectious disease and outbreak-response platforms. Novavax’s protein-based vaccine and Matrix-M adjuvant platform have previously been used in programs involving COVID-19, malaria, Ebola, MERS and Zika.

How Do Retail Traders Feel About Vaccine Stocks?

On Stocktwits, retail sentiment for MRNA, SABS, INO, NVAX was ‘extremely bullish’ amid ‘extremely high’ message volume.

MRNA has surged 123% over the past year, while SABS jumped 139% and NVAX gained 52%. In contrast, INO remains down 20% over the same period.

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