Vaccine makers up after FDA sets new guidelines for COVID shot approval

Shares of vaccine makers rise after FDA leaders' comments on new guidelines for approval of COVID boosters

Shares of Moderna MRNA.O up 8.5% at $28.62, Pfizer PFE.N up 2.2% at $23.50 and Novavax NVAX.O up 1.5% at $7.86

U.S. FDA plans to mandate new placebo-controlled clinical trials for approval of annual COVID boosters for Americans under 65 in good health

For adults over the age of 65 years, data, FDA can approve based on data from tests that measure immune response in patients

"In the big picture this actually eases some investor concern for 2025 guidance to some extent," Jefferies analyst Michael Yee says

FDA advisers also scheduled to discuss on Thursday whether to recommend COVID-19 vaccines for 2025-26 for targeting the LP.8.1 subvariant

LP.8.1 strain is spreading faster than other variants, becoming dominant in different parts of the world, including the U.S. and Europe

Including session's moves, MRNA down 31.6%, PFE down 11.5% and NVAX down 2.9% YTD

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