By Patrick Wingrove
(Reuters) -Moderna said on Thursday it secured a five-year loan of $1.5 billion from Ares Management, as it targets up to 10% revenue growth next year.
The vaccine maker, which is expected to unveil strategy updates to analysts later on Thursday, said it will draw $600 million upfront, and will have optional access to $400 million through November 2027 and $500 million through November 2028.
Moderna President Stephen Hoge told Reuters the loan would give the company flexibility to fund business development or manage risk. “As we see opportunities to invest, whether in the company or other programs, we want to be able to do that without any questions,” he said.
Moderna has been struggling financially since its pandemic windfall, with revenue plunging from $18.4 billion in 2022 to a fraction of that as COVID-19 vaccine demand collapsed, forcing deep cost cuts and pipeline reprioritization.
After dropping its cytomegalovirus vaccine in October, Moderna said it has also shelved programs for herpes simplex, Varicella-Zoster and glycogen storage disease.
The company, which expects $1.6 billion to $2 billion in sales for 2025, had been banking on revenue from newer vaccines using mRNA technology, including mRESVIA for RSV and an experimental COVID/flu combination shot.
Sales of its RSV shot have lagged competing vaccines from Pfizer and GSK, however.
Hoge said the projected 10% revenue growth for 2026 was riding on momentum from UK, Canada and Australia partnerships and U.S. demand for Moderna’s next-generation COVID vaccine mNEXSPIKE.
He added that 2027 should also get a lift as Pfizer’s EU COVID vaccine deal expires, opening national tenders to a $1.8 billion market where Moderna currently has little share, and again in 2028 from expected COVID‑flu combo and norovirus vaccine rollouts.
“We do expect we will be the first and perhaps only (player) in those vaccine categories,” he said.
Late-stage data on an individualized cancer vaccine, developed with partner Merck & Co, could also be available next year, Hoge said, leading to a possible 2027 launch.
The company on Thursday said it expects to trim $500 million from expenses in both 2026 and 2027, as it works toward a goal of breaking even in 2028.
After cutting some programs, Moderna said it will increase research-and-development investments for its cancer and rare disease pipeline.
(Reporting by Patrick Wingrove in New YorkEditing by Bill Berkrot)
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