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benzinga Corporate Catalyst Impact 95/100 ● negative

Pharma Bro Admits 'Playing Around' With MRNA Short At $80 Before it Exploded 177% Following Cancer Vax Trials— ‘I Bet You a Bunch of People Got Fired’

Aug 20, 2026, 1:07 PM UTC · Primary ticker $MRNA

This filing details Moderna's stock surge following positive Phase 3 trial data for its personalized mRNA cancer vaccine, catching many Wall Street analysts and short sellers, including Martin Shkreli, off guard. The unexpected breakthrough led to a significant market capitalization increase and substantial losses for those betting against the company.

Moderna (MRNA) experienced a massive 177% stock surge after announcing positive Phase 3 trial results for its personalized mRNA cancer vaccine, developed in partnership with Merck (MRK). This event was a significant surprise to the market, as many, including Martin Shkreli, had written off Moderna's post-pandemic prospects and were shorting the stock. The breakthrough marks the first successful Phase 3 win for an individualized mRNA cancer therapy, validating the technology beyond COVID-19. This creates a major opportunity for Moderna and Merck in the oncology space, while causing substantial losses for bearish traders and potentially leading to job losses on Wall Street trading desks. Short-term, MRNA is highly volatile, but long-term, this success could redefine its market position and valuation.

$MRNA positive Successful Phase 3 cancer vaccine trial
$MRK positive Partner in successful cancer vaccine trial
Source: benzinga
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