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Moderna Shares Surge After FDA Vaccine Approval

  //food-wine.news-articles.net/content/2026/02/19 .. rna-shares-surge-after-fda-vaccine-approval.html
  Published in Food and Wine on Thursday, February 19th 2026 at 5:29 GMT by The Independent
      Locales: Washington, Massachusetts, UNITED STATES

Washington D.C. - February 19th, 2026 - Shares in Moderna experienced a significant boost today after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted approval to updated COVID-19 vaccines from both Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech. The news arrives amidst growing concerns from epidemiologists about a potential autumn surge in infections and reignites discussion surrounding the long-awaited Nobel Prize recognition for the scientists behind the revolutionary mRNA vaccine technology.

The newly approved vaccines are specifically formulated to target the XBB.1.5 variant of SARS-CoV-2, which became dominant in the United States throughout 2025. Moderna's stock saw a jump of over 10% in early trading following the FDA announcement, indicating strong investor confidence in the updated formulations and their potential impact on public health.

This approval isn't merely a routine update; it represents a critical adaptation to the ever-evolving nature of the virus. While previous vaccines provided substantial protection against severe illness and death, their effectiveness waned against newer variants. The XBB.1.5-targeting vaccines aim to restore that high level of protection, particularly crucial as immunity from prior vaccinations and infections diminishes. Public health officials are emphasizing the importance of booster shots with these updated vaccines, especially for vulnerable populations including the elderly, immunocompromised individuals, and those with underlying health conditions.

"We are continuously monitoring the virus's evolution and adapting our vaccination strategies accordingly," stated Dr. Eleanor Vance, director of the CDC's Vaccine Injury Surveillance System, in a press conference following the FDA decision. "These updated vaccines provide the best possible protection against the strains currently circulating and those anticipated to dominate in the coming months."

Beyond the immediate public health implications, the FDA's decision has once again brought the pioneering work behind mRNA technology into the spotlight - specifically, the question of when, or if, those scientists will receive the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. While mRNA technology has been under development for decades, the COVID-19 pandemic acted as a catalyst, dramatically accelerating its research and deployment. The speed with which effective vaccines were developed and distributed was unprecedented, and the impact on global health has been profound.

Figures like Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman, whose research into mRNA modification was fundamental to the vaccines' success, are frequently cited as frontrunners for the prestigious award. Their work overcame significant hurdles in mRNA stability and immune response, paving the way for the technology to be utilized effectively in vaccination.

"I think there's a strong sentiment among people that these folks absolutely deserve to be recognized for their extraordinary work," explained Steven Hagege, a virologist at the University of Georgia. "The timing of the FDA approval, demonstrating the continued relevance and impact of mRNA technology, could just be the push they need."

However, the Nobel committee operates under a stringent, often debated, rule: discoveries must typically be at least 20 years old before being considered for the prize. This requirement is intended to allow for sufficient time to assess the long-term impact and significance of a scientific breakthrough. Given that the initial breakthroughs in mRNA modification occurred in the early 2000s, the scientists are approaching the eligibility window, but still have approximately two years before they fully meet the criteria.

Some argue that the exceptional circumstances surrounding the pandemic warrant a deviation from the traditional timeline, citing the immediate and undeniable benefits realized through mRNA vaccines. Others maintain that adherence to the committee's guidelines is vital for maintaining the prize's integrity. The debate highlights the challenges of applying rigid rules to rapidly evolving scientific landscapes.

The potential Nobel Prize win isn't simply about individual recognition; it would also serve as a powerful endorsement of mRNA technology itself. This platform holds enormous potential beyond COVID-19, with ongoing research exploring its applications in treating cancer, autoimmune diseases, and genetic disorders. A Nobel Prize would undoubtedly attract further investment and accelerate the development of these next-generation therapies, potentially ushering in a new era of personalized medicine.

The FDA's approval of the updated vaccines and the ongoing anticipation surrounding the Nobel Prize underscore the ongoing saga of COVID-19 and the extraordinary scientific ingenuity that has defined the fight against the virus.