Sanofi announced that its protein-based COVID-19 vaccine Nuvaxovid demonstrated statistically significant lower systemic reactogenicity compared to Moderna's mRNA vaccine mNEXSPIKE in a head-to-head phase 4 study. Severe systemic symptoms were more than 50% less frequent with Nuvaxovid, and recipients were nearly twice as likely to choose the same vaccine again the following year, potentially addressing vaccine hesitancy concerns.

Sanofi's Nuvaxovid, a protein-based COVID-19 vaccine, demonstrated statistically significantly lower systemic reactogenicity compared to Moderna's mNEXSPIKE mRNA vaccine in a Phase 4 randomized, double-blind study of 1,000 US adults. Severe systemic symptoms were over 50% less frequent with Nuvaxovid, and recipients were nearly twice as likely to choose the same vaccine again the following year, potentially addressing vaccine hesitancy concerns.

Immatics announced that a 17-year-old patient with advanced metastatic nephroblastoma achieved deep remission following treatment with a PRAME-directed TCR T-cell therapy. The patient, who had exhausted all available treatment options, experienced marked regression of liver, lung, and brain metastases with ongoing response at 6 months follow-up. The case will be presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2026, supporting the therapeutic potential of PRAME TCR T-cell therapy in pediatric solid tumors.

A major M&A week sees Sysco acquiring Restaurant Depot for $26 billion and McCormick merging with Unilever's food division for $44 billion, while Eli Lilly acquires Centessa Pharmaceuticals for $7.8 billion. The podcast discusses the track record of consumer brand mergers (mostly unsuccessful) and analyzes Whirlpool as a dividend investment amid housing market headwinds.

Iran's President declared readiness to end hostilities, triggering a market rally. WTI crude oil fell 2% to $100/barrel, while the Nasdaq 100 surged 3.2%. Airlines, clean energy, and growth stocks led gains, with the top 10 mega-cap tech and semiconductor companies generating nearly $950 billion in market cap gains.

Moderna stock has surged over 70% since the start of 2026, driven by its expanding pipeline beyond its coronavirus vaccine. The biotech company is commercializing RSV and flu vaccines, advancing cancer vaccine candidates, and pursuing oncology treatments. However, with 2025 revenue of $1.9 billion and a $2.8 billion net loss, the analyst suggests waiting for a dip before investing, as the stock may have advanced too quickly.

Pfizer and Moderna, both pandemic-era vaccine leaders, face declining COVID vaccine sales but are pursuing new product pipelines. Moderna offers higher upside potential with its mRNA-based cancer and flu vaccines, having gained 69% this year, but carries significant downside risk. Pfizer, the larger and more stable company with a 6.3% dividend yield, provides lower volatility and financial flexibility to weather setbacks. The choice depends on investor risk tolerance.

CytomX Therapeutics priced a $250 million underwritten public offering of 45.99 million shares at $5.30 per share and pre-funded warrants. The company plans to use net proceeds for development of Varseta-M and other pipeline programs. The offering is expected to close on March 19, 2026.

The article compares two small-cap value ETFs: Vanguard's VBR and iShares' ISCV. Both offer affordable exposure to U.S. small-cap value stocks with nearly identical expense ratios (0.05% vs 0.06%). VBR has significantly larger assets ($62.3B vs $594.6M), lower maximum drawdown, and better liquidity, while ISCV offers slightly higher yield (2.0% vs 1.9%) and better one-year performance (18.3% vs 17.9%). The choice depends on investor priorities regarding liquidity, yield, and sector exposure.

BioNTech shares fell 14.25% in premarket trading after co-founders Ugur Sahin and Özlem Türeci announced plans to transition to a new mRNA venture by end of 2026. The company also lowered 2026 sales guidance to $2.33-$2.68 billion due to declining COVID-19 vaccine demand, though it expects multiple late-stage oncology data readouts in 2026.

Moderna settled a long-running legal dispute over COVID-19 vaccine technology, paying $2.25 billion to Roivant Sciences' Genevant unit and Arbutus Biopharma—less than the $3 billion expected. While Moderna stock surged 15.99% on the news, analysts suggest it now trades 22% above fair value after a 108% six-month rally. The article identifies 9 biotech stocks trading 27.6% to 64.6% below fair value with potential upside of 31.6% to 251.4%.

Moderna reached a $950 million settlement agreement with Arbutus Biopharma and Roivant's Genevant Sciences, resolving litigation related to its COVID-19 vaccine Spikevax and mRESVIA product. The settlement clears a major legal overhang, allowing the company to focus on future growth. Moderna expects to end 2026 with $4.5-5 billion in cash and aims for breakeven in 2028. The stock surged 8.85% in premarket trading as the settlement value was better than investors' worst-case fears.