Moderna says its COVID-19 shot generates 'robust' response in children 6 to 11

Shares of Moderna Inc. (NAS:MRNA) gained 0.9% in premarket trading on Monday after the company shared interim data from a Phase 2/3 clinical study evaluating its COVID-19 vaccine in children between the ages of 6 and 11 years old. The trial, which has 4,753 participants between the ages of 6 and 11, evaluated the immune response one month after the second dose. Moderna said the vaccine met the trial's endpoint and generated a "robust neutralizing antibody response" but it did not provide an efficacy rate in the news release. The company also said it plans to submit the clinical data to the FDA in the "near term." The news was announced one day before a Food and Drug Administration advisory committee is set to discuss the benefits and risks of BioNTech SE (NAS:BNTX) and Pfizer Inc.'s (NYS:PFE) COVID-19 vaccine in children between the ages of 5 and 11. The Moderna and BioNTech/Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines both require two shots and use mRNA technology. Moderna's stock has soared 212.5% so far this year, while the broader S&P 500 (S&P:SPX) is up 21.0%.