Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings Inc

Moderna and Merck announced positive Phase 3 results for an individualized mRNA cancer vaccine, marking the first successful late-stage trial of its kind. The treatment showed significant improvement in recurrence-free and metastasis-free survival in melanoma patients when combined with Merck's Keytruda. Elon Musk said mRNA technology could fundamentally change how diseases are treated, making medicine more of a software problem than a biological one. Moderna shares skyrocketed 176.97% to close at $174.38, while Merck closed 12.6% higher at $152.20. BioNTech gained 21.96% and Arcturus Therapeutics closed 25.21% higher as peers rallied on the news.

Arcturus Therapeutics has entered a strategic collaboration with Thermo Fisher Scientific to support Phase 3 development and potential commercialization of ARCT-032, its investigational mRNA therapy for cystic fibrosis. Under the agreement, Thermo Fisher will provide Phase 3 manufacturing, clinical research, and related services, leveraging its Accelerator Drug Development solutions. If Phase 2 yields positive results, Arcturus expects to conduct the Phase 3 program through Thermo Fisher's PPD clinical research business. Subject to regulatory approval, Thermo Fisher will receive exclusive commercial manufacturing rights under a separate commercial agreement. The collaboration aims to accelerate development of ARCT-032 while preparing for potential commercial supply.

The global mRNA cancer vaccine market is projected to exceed US$1.20 billion by 2026, according to a new report from ResearchAndMarkets.com. The market is expected to see continued robust growth through 2036, driven by advances in precision oncology, sequencing technologies, and an expanding pipeline of clinical candidates. Key players such as BioNTech, Moderna, Arcturus Therapeutics, and Sana Biotechnology are advancing platform and clinical innovations, while innovations like self-amplifying mRNA constructs and improved lipid nanoparticle delivery systems are enhancing scalability. The report also highlights that production relies on globally sourced inputs like lipid nanoparticles and nucleotides, making supply chains vulnerable to tariffs and disruptions, which could impact costs and development timelines. The analysis covers market segmentation by vaccine type, therapeutic approach, clinical phase, indication, and end-user across regions including North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa.