American biotech firm specializing in mRNA vaccines
Moderna has won FDA approval for its mRNA flu vaccine mFlusiva for adults 50–64 and accelerated approval for those 65 and older. The decision follows a contentious review earlier this year, a unanimous advisory panel recommendation in June and political disputes inside US health agencies over mRNA vaccines. Retail availability is expected in coming weeks.
Global markets have steadied as US retail data suggests consumer spending is softer while inflation trends remain in check. Traders are watching for Federal Reserve guidance as major indices hover near records after a week of mixed signals across equities, bonds and currencies.
Two unvaccinated residents in Pennsylvania have died from measles, triggering a public health debate. Governor Shapiro says vaccinations could have averted the deaths, while RFK Jr. questions the figures, fueling a political row that experts warn could hinder responses to the outbreak.
The DRC has recorded the largest-ever Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak, with more than 5,600 confirmed cases and over 2,700 deaths, and international agencies are racing to respond. WHO and partners have allocated 70,000 Ervebo doses—20,000 for a Phase III trial and 50,000 for frontline workers—while CEPI has awarded up to $16.5m to advance a Minapharm Bundibugyo vaccine into early human trials. Uganda has received MBP134 antibody vials as a precautionary measure.
The experimental mRNA cancer vaccine, intismeran, has been tested in a phase 3 trial with 1,000+ melanoma patients. It is personalised to each patient by analysing tumors and targets neoantigens. When given with pembrolizumab, it aims to boost the immune response and extend cancer-free time. Results indicate reduced recurrence risk, but long-term survival remains to be seen. Trials also explore other cancers.
Investors are reassessing the macro backdrop as Nvidia’s earnings loom and Treasury moves prompt shifts in long-dated yields. Traders are weighing the potential for AI-driven demand against policy signals that could extend duration pressure.
Dolly Parton has died at age 80 in Nashville, her publicity team has said. Her nephew Bryan Seaver announced the news on Instagram. Parton has written thousands of songs, sold more than 100 million records, won multiple Grammys and founded the Imagination Library, which has distributed hundreds of millions of free books.
Dolly Parton has died at age 80. The Tennessee-born superstar rose from poverty to become a global icon in music, film and philanthropy. Her career spanned seven decades, marked by hit songs, blockbuster roles, and a lasting legacy in literacy and charity.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has expanded from Sevier County roots to millions of children worldwide, delivering free books monthly to under-fives. Following Parton’s death, communities in Scotland, the US, and beyond highlight its impact on literacy, foster care, and family routines.
Major US medical societies have issued unified guidance this week for flu, COVID-19 and RSV vaccines after the CDC’s advisory process has been disrupted. Updated COVID shots have FDA approval and manufacturers are shipping doses, but legal and policy disputes over federal recommendations continue to leave states and insurers uncertain about timing and coverage.
This week has seen several medical research and regulatory developments. Insilico Medicine has reported that its experimental drug rentosertib changed blood‑protein patterns that aging clocks read as three to four years younger in a small trial. Stanford teams have published studies showing they can grow hindbrain neurons separately and implant human cortical organoids into mice. The US health department has appointed permanent directors for three FDA centers.