Updated version 1 - Moderna raises its annual revenue forecast due to strong overseas demand for COVID-19 vaccines

Added stock price trends, detailed information, and charts in paragraph 2

Reuters, November 6 - Moderna (MRNA.O) raised its full-year revenue forecast on Friday after strong international demand for its COVID-19 vaccine and funds from partnerships helped the biotechnology company return to profitability in the third quarter.

The company's shares rose more than 6% in pre-market trading.

This strong performance has injected new momentum into Moderna's business diversification strategy. The company is expanding beyond COVID-19 vaccines with newly approved flu vaccines and personalized cancer vaccine candidates, aiming for long-term, sustainable growth of its mRNA platform.

Moderna now expects total revenue to grow between 15% and 25% in 2026, higher than its previous forecast of up to 10%. The company expects about half of its annual revenue to come from international markets.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Moderna's flu vaccine mFlusiva (link) in August for adults aged 50 and older, marking the first authorization of a seasonal flu vaccine based on mRNA technology.

Moderna said that because contracts for flu vaccines for the year of approval were already finalized, it plans a limited U.S. launch during the 2026-27 flu season.

Last month, Moderna and its partner Merck MRK.N said their personalized cancer vaccine intismeran autogene, in combination with Merck’s flagship immunotherapy Keytruda, reduced the risk of melanoma recurrence or death by 42% in a large clinical trial (link), potentially paving the way for a new era in cancer treatment.

The two companies expect the therapy to be launched in 2027.

Moderna's share price has surged more than eightfold this year, mainly after it announced the successful clinical trial of intismeran autogene in August, making it one of the best performers in the S&P 500 index .SPX.

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According to data compiled by London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG), the company's third-quarter revenue was $1.3 billion, exceeding analysts' average expectations of $885.1 million.

The U.S. market accounted for about 60% of Moderna's total sales this quarter.

Moderna reported a net profit of $162 million, compared with a loss of about $200 million in the same period last year.

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