Latest news with #Moderna
Arab Times
a day ago
- Health
- Arab Times
New study links COVID-19 vaccine to potential eye damage
NEW YORK, July 19: A new scientific study has found that Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine may cause temporary changes in the eyes' corneal structure, raising concerns about long-term vision health, particularly for individuals with pre-existing eye conditions. Researchers in Turkey studied 64 participants who received both doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and discovered measurable changes to the cornea's innermost layer, known as the endothelium. This thin cell layer is vital for keeping the cornea clear by pumping out excess fluid. The study was published Wednesday in the journal Ophthalmic Epidemiology. The scientists observed that, within two months of vaccination, participants showed a slight thickening of the cornea, a decrease in endothelial cell count, and greater variability in the size of these cells — all potential signs of short-term stress on the eye. 'These changes suggest the vaccine may temporarily weaken the endothelium, though none of the participants experienced vision problems during the study,' the researchers noted. The average corneal thickness increased from 528 to 542 micrometers — about a 2% change. Meanwhile, endothelial cell density dropped from an average of 2,597 to 2,378 cells per square millimeter — an 8% decrease. While this remains within normal limits for healthy adults, the decline could pose a risk for people with already low cell counts, such as those with prior eye surgeries, infections, or conditions like Fuchs' dystrophy. The study also found a drop in the proportion of endothelial cells with a healthy hexagonal shape, from 50% to 48%, and an increase in the coefficient of variation in cell size from 39 to 42 — further indicators of stress or damage. 'These changes are subtle and may not cause immediate harm, but they warrant monitoring, especially in individuals with compromised corneal health,' the authors stated. The research team did not recommend against COVID-19 vaccination but emphasized the need for further long-term studies to determine whether the observed changes persist or worsen over time. 'If these effects on the endothelium continue for years, they could contribute to eye diseases such as corneal edema, bullous keratopathy, or corneal decompensation — all of which can lead to permanent vision loss if left untreated,' the study warned. Specialists recommend that people with eye discomfort or blurry vision consult an ophthalmologist. A non-invasive test using a specular microscope can determine endothelial cell health. The study adds to a growing list of side-effect concerns linked to COVID-19 vaccines. In May, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded its warning labels on Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to include risks of myocarditis and pericarditis — types of heart inflammation — particularly in males aged 16 to 25. Despite these concerns, health authorities maintain that the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination continue to outweigh the risks for the majority of the population. The Turkish study involved 128 eyes (64 participants), with each subject undergoing full ophthalmic examinations before receiving their first vaccine dose and approximately 75 days after their second. Researchers used high-precision tools — including Sirius corneal topography and the Tomey EM-4000 specular microscope — to assess corneal thickness and endothelial cell characteristics.
Fast Company
2 days ago
- Science
- Fast Company
How IBM and Moderna's partnership could lead to an explosion in drug development
IBM: International Business Machines, or 'Incredible Breakthroughs in Medicine'? IBM may need to tweak its moniker in light of recent news, because its recent work in quantum computing, in partnership with Moderna, could lead to potentially explosive breakthroughs in the medical field. The companies' recently published research showed 'promise' using a combination of both quantum and classical computers to 'predict mRNA secondary structures,' which may make it easier to develop and design new mRNA-based medicines and treatments. Until now, this wasn't possible due to the amount of computing power needed to calculate potential complex interactions at a molecular level. But quantum computing, which is being used in similar ways such as materials design, is giving scientists the extra computational firepower they need to do it. The results? More, better drugs, developed on much shorter time frames. 'One of the biggest challenges when identifying the best candidates for mRNA-based medicines is determining how they will instruct mRNA to fold in the body—a challenging optimization problem that gets harder and harder to solve for larger mRNA sequences, ultimately pushing the limits of even the most advanced classical computers,' says Sarah Sheldon, Senior Manager of Applied Quantum Science at IBM. 'By applying an approach that leverages the strengths of both quantum and classical computing, the Moderna and IBM team has set a new record in the scale of mRNA structure problems that quantum computers are able to solve.' In effect, utilizing quantum computers on a large scale 'could transform life sciences,' she says. 'Quantum computing holds the promise to help streamline the design of new medicines, while reducing the time and cost scales of bringing new therapies to market,' explains Sheldon. 'As quantum computers continue to expand their computational power and new algorithms emerge, they could accelerate drug discovery and enable more precise and effective medicines.' While that's obviously exciting news, it's worth noting that some in the tech field have tried to throw cold water on the hubbub surrounding quantum computing. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, for instance, said earlier this year that he thought quantum computers were still decades away—a notion that was rejected by others in the space. Some companies already do have commercially available quantum computers on the market, and others are working on their own, such as IBM. One thing we do know, at this point, is that the promise of quantum computing, when pointed at existing research bottlenecks, has many researchers excited. 'We're already seeing promising early results,' says Sheldon. 'We expect to make meaningful progress with our partners across global industries to scale algorithms capable of running increasingly more complex quantum circuits with greater accuracy—a critical step toward realizing practical and industry-relevant applications in fields such as life sciences, materials, chemistry, optimization, and more.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
3 of Wall Street's Favorite Stocks That Fall Short
Wall Street is overwhelmingly bullish on the stocks in this article, with price targets suggesting significant upside potential. However, it's worth remembering that analysts rarely issue sell ratings, partly because their firms often seek other business from the same companies they cover. Unlike the investment banks, we created StockStory to provide independent analysis that helps you determine which companies are truly worth following. Keeping that in mind, here are three stocks where Wall Street may be overlooking some important risks and some alternatives with better fundamentals. Jamf (JAMF) Consensus Price Target: $17.45 (112% implied return) Founded in 2002 by Zach Halmstad and Chip Pearson, right around the time when Apple began to dominate the personal computing market, Jamf (NASDAQ:JAMF) provides software for companies to manage Apple devices such as Macs, iPads, and iPhones. Why Do We Think Twice About JAMF? Revenue increased by 17.7% annually over the last three years, acceptable on an absolute basis but tepid for a software company enjoying secular tailwinds Average billings growth of 8.9% over the last year was subpar, suggesting it struggled to push its software and might have to lower prices to stimulate demand Suboptimal cost structure is highlighted by its history of operating margin losses Jamf is trading at $8.22 per share, or 1.6x forward price-to-sales. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including JAMF in your portfolio, it's free. Moderna (MRNA) Consensus Price Target: $47.59 (47.1% implied return) Rising to global prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic with one of the first effective vaccines, Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA) develops messenger RNA (mRNA) medicines that direct the body's cells to produce proteins with therapeutic or preventive benefits for various diseases. Why Do We Steer Clear of MRNA? Historically negative EPS is a worrisome sign for conservative investors and obscures its long-term earnings potential Capital intensity has ramped up over the last five years as its free cash flow margin decreased by 309.9 percentage points Limited cash reserves may force the company to seek unfavorable financing terms that could dilute shareholders Moderna's stock price of $32.36 implies a valuation ratio of 6x forward price-to-sales. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why MRNA doesn't pass our bar. Kemper (KMPR) Consensus Price Target: $82.20 (37% implied return) Originally known as Unitrin until rebranding in 2011, Kemper (NYSE:KMPR) is an insurance holding company that provides automobile, homeowners, life, and other insurance products to individuals and businesses across the United States. Why Do We Pass on KMPR? Net premiums earned tumbled by 2.4% annually over the last four years, showing market trends are working against its favor during this cycle Performance over the past five years shows each sale was less profitable as its earnings per share dropped by 2.8% annually, worse than its revenue Policy losses and capital returns have eroded its book value per share this cycle as its book value per share declined by 4.5% annually over the last five years At $60 per share, Kemper trades at 1.3x forward P/B. If you're considering KMPR for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more. High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions When Trump unveiled his aggressive tariff plan in April 2024, markets tanked as investors feared a full-blown trade war. But those who panicked and sold missed the subsequent rebound that's already erased most losses. Don't let fear keep you from great opportunities and take a look at Top 6 Stocks for this week. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025). Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-micro-cap company Tecnoglass (+1,754% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today for free. Find your next big winner with StockStory today. Find your next big winner with StockStory today StockStory is growing and hiring equity analyst and marketing roles. Are you a 0 to 1 builder passionate about the markets and AI? See the open roles here.
Reuters
2 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Moderna cancels plans to build Japan plant on poor business environment
July 18 (Reuters) - Moderna (MRNA.O), opens new tab said on Friday it is cancelling plans to build a messenger RNA manufacturing plant in Japan due to "changes in the business environment" around the world and in Japan.
Nikkei Asia
2 days ago
- Business
- Nikkei Asia
Moderna cancels Japan mRNA plant plans amid weak demand
Moderna Japan had planned to build an mRNA drug plant at Shonan Health Innovation Park in Kanagawa prefecture. The company shelved the plan, citing weak demand for vaccines and a poor business environment. YURIKA YONEDA TOKYO -- U.S. drugmaker Moderna has scrapped plans to build a messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine plant in Japan, citing sluggish vaccine demand and poor business performance. "After careful consideration in light of the current business environment, we have decided not to proceed with this plan at this time," Moderna's Japanese subsidiary stated in a news release on Friday.
