Moderna’s FDA adcomm, IPO mania, biopharma layoffs, more

BioSpace · Jun 17, 2026 · 25m · transcript

Moderna’s mRNA-based flu vaccine made headlines in February when the FDA declined to even review the application. Days later, the agency reversed course, setting a decision date for August and later scheduling an advisory committee meeting for June 18. In documents released ahead of that meeting, the FDA and Moderna seem to have reached alignment, though the agency did flag certain data gaps for advisors to review.

Biotech IPOs are off the charts—literally. This past month has seen not one but two record-setting public debuts. First there was Kailera Therapeutics, which hit the market with…