Shares of Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA) climbed nearly 8% in premarket trading on Monday after reports emerged that a U.S. citizen tested positive for the Andes strain of hantavirus, bringing renewed investor focus to the company’s early-stage infectious disease research.
By 05:38 ET, Moderna stock was up 7.7% in premarket activity.
HHS Confirms Positive Case on Repatriation Flight
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said one passenger aboard a repatriation flight had returned a mild positive test for hantavirus, while another passenger was experiencing mild symptoms consistent with the infection.
According to HHS, all 17 American citizens evacuated from the MV Hondius cruise ship were traveling back to the United States. The two potentially affected passengers were transported inside the aircraft’s biocontainment units “out of an abundance of caution.”
Moderna Highlights Early-Stage Hantavirus Research
Moderna confirmed last week that it is evaluating potential treatments targeting hantavirus, describing the programme as “early-stage and ongoing” within its broader infectious disease development efforts.
The biotechnology company previously entered into a research collaboration with Korea University in 2023 under its mRNA Access Program to support development work on a potential hantavirus vaccine.
Currently, there are no approved vaccines or specific antiviral treatments available for hantavirus infections. Medical treatment is generally limited to supportive care aimed at stabilising patients during recovery.
“Research to help us develop vaccines and develop treatments is urgently needed,” said Carlos del Rio, former president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America.
Andes Variant Draws Particular Attention
The Andes strain identified among the cruise ship passengers is native to South America, where the vessel originally departed.
Unlike most forms of hantavirus, which are typically transmitted through exposure to infected rodent urine, saliva or droppings, the Andes variant is among the few strains known to spread between humans, although documented cases of person-to-person transmission remain uncommon.