Moderna (MRNA) risk factors: FY2025 10-K

Item 1A of the 10-K for the period ending 2025-12-31, filed 2026-02-20. 75 risk factor headings as filed. Read Item 1A in full · The whole 10-K · What changed since FY2024

10new since FY2024
10reworded
7removed
55unchanged

Headings mentioning a theme: Tariffs 1 · AI 1 · Cybersecurity 1 · China 0 · Interest rates 0. Compare across the S&P 500.

Risks related to commercialization and our products

8
  1. Regulatory and market uncertainty have and may continue to impact our business and the markets for our products.new
  2. We may experience difficulties executing our near-term strategy and prioritized pipeline.new
  3. The vaccine market, and pharmaceutical market more generally, is intensely competitive, and we may be unable to compete effectively in the market for existing or new products, treatment methods or technologies.reworded
  4. We have experienced commercial challenges and may experience additional challenges in the future.reworded
  5. The commercial success of our products depends on the degree of market acceptance by physicians, patients, third-party payors and others in the medical community.
  6. Sales of pharmaceutical products depend on the availability and extent of reimbursement from third-party payors, and we may be adversely impacted by changes to such reimbursement policies or rules.
  7. Federal legislative and regulatory efforts to implement reference pricing or most-favored-nation pricing models and other, similar regulatory actions could impact our product revenues and materially harm our business.new
  8. The market opportunities for our products and product candidates may be smaller than we believe, or we may be unable to successfully identify clinical trial participants.

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Risks related to our pipeline, product development and regulatory review

10
  1. If we cannot obtain, or are delayed in obtaining, regulatory approvals and advisory committee recommendations, we will be unable to effectively commercialize, or will be delayed in commercializing, our product candidates.
  2. Clinical development is lengthy and uncertain, and our clinical programs may be delayed or terminated, or may be more costly to conduct than we anticipate.
  3. There are risks unique to each of our programs and modalities and risks applicable across programs and modalities, which may delay or prevent our ability to advance one or more of our programs in clinical development, obtain regulatory approval or commercialize our products.
  4. We may experience delays in enrolling participants in our clinical trials.
  5. mRNA drug development involves substantial clinical and regulatory risks, and negative perceptions of our platform, products and product candidates could adversely affect our business and ability to obtain regulatory approvals.new
  6. Because we are developing some of our product candidates for the treatment of diseases in which there is little clinical experience and, in some cases, using new endpoints or methodologies, the FDA or other regulators may not consider the endpoints of our clinical trials to provide clinically meaningful results.
  7. Certain mRNA therapies are classified as gene therapies by the FDA and the EMA. The association of our products with gene therapies could result in increased regulatory burdens, impair the reputation of our products or negatively impact our platform or our business.
  8. Our products are, and any future products will be, subject to regulatory scrutiny.
  9. Preclinical development is lengthy and uncertain, especially for mRNA medicines.
  10. Although we have obtained rare pediatric disease designation for mRNA-3927, we may not be eligible to receive a priority review voucher in the event the FDA determines we no longer meet the criteria for designation, revokes the designation or FDA approval does not occur by September 30, 2029.new

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Risks related to the manufacturing of our commercial products and product candidates

6
  1. We or our third-party manufacturers may encounter difficulties in manufacturing, product release, shelf life, testing, storage, supply chain management or shipping for any of our products.
  2. As we grow as a commercial company and our drug development pipeline matures, the increased demand for clinical and commercial supplies from our facilities and third parties may impact our ability to operate.reworded
  3. We are subject to operational risks associated with the physical and digital infrastructure at our manufacturing facilities and those of our external service providers.
  4. Our products and product candidates are sensitive to shipping and storage conditions, which, in some cases, requires cold-chain logistics and subjects them to risk of loss or damage.
  5. Our manufacturing facilities or those of third-party manufacturers or suppliers may fail to meet regulatory requirements, which could delay approval of or increase production costs for our products.reworded
  6. Our intismeran autogene product candidates are uniquely manufactured for each patient using a novel, complex manufacturing process and we may encounter difficulties in production.reworded

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Risks related to our reliance on third parties

4
  1. We are dependent on single-source suppliers for some of the components and materials used in, and the manufacturing processes required to develop and commercialize, our products and product candidates.
  2. We have entered into strategic alliances with third parties for product development and commercialization. If these alliances are unsuccessful, our business could be adversely affected.reworded
  3. We may seek to establish additional strategic alliances and, if we are unable to do so on commercially reasonable terms, we may have to alter our development and commercialization plans. Certain of our strategic alliance agreements may restrict our ability to develop certain products.reworded
  4. We expect to continue to rely on third parties to conduct aspects of our research, preclinical studies, protocol development and clinical trials. If these third parties do not perform satisfactorily or comply with regulatory requirements, we may be unable to obtain regulatory approval for or commercialize our product candidates.

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Risks related to our intellectual property

10
  1. We may be unable to obtain and enforce patent protection for our discoveries and the intellectual property rights therein, or protect the confidentiality of our trade secrets.
  2. Uncertainty over IP in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry has been the source of litigation and other disputes, which is inherently costly and unpredictable and can have adverse financial and freedom-to-operate consequences.
  3. We are, and may in the future become, involved in patent litigation or other proceedings related to a determination of rights, we could incur substantial costs and expenses, substantial liability for damages or be required to stop our product development and commercialization efforts.
  4. If third-party owners of any patent rights that we license do not properly or successfully obtain, maintain or enforce the patents underlying such licenses, our competitive position and business prospects may be harmed.
  5. If we fail to comply with our obligations in the agreements under which we license IP rights from third parties or otherwise experience disruptions to our business relationships with our licensors, we could lose license rights that are important to our business.
  6. We may be subject to claims that our employees, consultants or independent contractors have wrongfully used or disclosed confidential information of third parties or that our employees have wrongfully used or disclosed alleged trade secrets of their former employers.
  7. We may be subject to claims challenging the inventorship or ownership of our patents and other IP.
  8. Changes in U.S. patent and regulatory law could impair our ability to protect our products.
  9. We may be unable to protect our IP rights throughout the world.
  10. Our reliance on government funding and collaboration from governmental and quasi-governmental entities for certain of our programs adds uncertainty to our research and development efforts with respect to those programs and may impose requirements related to IP rights and requirements that increase the costs of development, commercialization and production of any programs developed under those government-funded programs.

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Risks related to our financial condition and results of operations

4
  1. We incurred net losses in 2025 and 2024, and expect to incur additional losses in the future; we may not achieve long-term sustainable profitability.reworded
  2. Our quarterly and annual operating results may fluctuate. As a result, we may fail to meet or exceed the expectations of research analysts or investors, which could cause our stock price to decline and negatively impact our financing or funding ability, as well as our ability to exist as a standalone company.
  3. The investment of our cash, cash equivalents and investments is subject to risks which may cause losses and affect the liquidity of these investments.
  4. Failure to comply with the covenants in our credit agreement could adversely affect our businessnew

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Risks related to our business and operations

21
  1. We may encounter difficulties in managing changes to the size, structure and scope of our company.new
  2. We are subject to the risks of doing business outside of the United States.
  3. Our failure to maintain our enterprise resource planning (ERP) system could adversely impact our business and results of operations.
  4. Our success depends on our ability to retain key employees, consultants and advisors and to attract, retain and motivate qualified personnel.
  5. If we cannot maintain our corporate culture, we could lose the innovation, teamwork and passion that we believe contribute to our success.
  6. Our internal computer systems and physical premises, or those of third parties with which we share sensitive data or information, may fail or suffer security breaches, including from cybersecurity incidents, which could materially disrupt our product development programs and manufacturing operations.Cybersecurity
  7. We may use our financial and human capital to pursue a particular research program or product candidate and fail to capitalize on programs that may be more profitable or for which there is a greater likelihood of success.
  8. If we are not successful in discovering, developing and commercializing additional products, our ability to expand our business and achieve our strategic objectives would be impaired.
  9. Our business could be harmed if we suffer damage to our reputation, including as a result of a product recall.
  10. Product liability lawsuits against us could cause us to incur substantial liabilities and limit commercialization of our products.
  11. Federal legislation and actions by federal, state and local governments may permit reimportation into the United States of drugs from foreign countries where the drugs are sold at lower prices.
  12. Healthcare legislative reform discourse and potential or enacted measures may have a material adverse impact on our business and results of operations and legislative or political discussions surrounding the desire for and implementation of pricing reforms may adversely impact our business.
  13. We are subject, directly or indirectly, to federal and state healthcare fraud and abuse laws and false claims laws. If we cannot comply, or have not fully complied, with such laws, we could face substantial penalties.
  14. We are subject to various and evolving laws and regulations governing the privacy and security of personal data, and our failure to comply could result in fines or criminal penalties and damage our reputation.
  15. Our use of generative AI ("GenAI") and other AI technologies presents certain risks and challenges given the emerging nature of AI technologies.rewordedAI
  16. We could be adversely affected by outbreaks of epidemic, pandemic or other contagious diseases.
  17. Engaging in acquisitions, joint ventures or strategic collaborations may increase our capital requirements, dilute our shareholders and cause us to incur debt or assume contingent liabilities.
  18. The illegal distribution and sale by third parties of counterfeit or stolen versions of mRNA products could negatively impact our financial performance or reputation.
  19. Climate change or legal, regulatory or market measures to address climate change may negatively affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
  20. Evolving environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards and expectations may expose us to numerous risks.new
  21. If we fail to comply with environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, we could become subject to fines or penalties or incur costs that could harm our business.

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Risks related to ownership of our common stock

5
  1. The price of our common stock has been volatile, which could result in substantial losses for shareholders.
  2. Our principal shareholders and management own a significant percentage of our stock and will be able to exert significant control over matters subject to shareholder approval.
  3. Provisions in our organizational documents and Delaware law could make it more difficult or costly for a third party to acquire us or remove our current management, even if doing so would benefit our shareholders.reworded
  4. We do not expect to pay cash dividends for the foreseeable future.new
  5. Our by-laws designate the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts as the exclusive forum for certain litigation that may be initiated by our shareholders, which could limit our shareholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us.

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General risk factors

7
  1. Our employees, principal investigators and consultants may engage in misconduct or other improper activities, including non-compliance with regulatory standards and requirements and insider trading.
  2. We could face unfavorable U.S. or global economic conditions, including as a result of disease outbreak, war, conflict or other political instability, or geopolitical risks.
  3. Changes in tariffs and other governmental trade policies could negatively affect our business and results of operations.newTariffs
  4. Employee litigation and unfavorable publicity could negatively affect our future business.
  5. Ineffective internal controls could adversely impact our business and operating results.
  6. Changes in tax law could adversely affect our business and financial condition.
  7. The increasing use of social media platforms presents risks and challenges.

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No longer in Item 1A

7

Headings in the FY2024 10-K with no match this year.

  1. Uncertainty and evolving dynamics in the markets for COVID and RSV vaccines, and respiratory vaccines more generally, have in the past impacted and are likely to continue to impact our financial results.
  2. We may be unsuccessful in executing our cost efficiency and portfolio prioritization efforts.
  3. We may be unsuccessful or delayed in updating our COVID vaccine to protect against future variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
  4. mRNA drug development has substantial clinical development and regulatory risks due to the novel nature of this new class of medicines, and the negative perception of the efficacy, safety or tolerability profile of any product candidates that we or others develop could adversely affect our ability to conduct our business, advance our product candidates or obtain regulatory approvals.
  5. We may encounter difficulties in managing the development and expansion of our company.
  6. Our aspirations, goals and disclosures related to environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters expose us to numerous risks.
  7. Because we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our capital stock in the foreseeable future, capital appreciation, if any, will be your sole source of gain.

Headings are the lines of Item 1A set wholly in bold or italics, as the parser reads them, without the introductory paragraph that opens the section. A heading is new when no heading in the prior 10-K matches it after ignoring case and punctuation, and reworded when it shares at least 60 percent of its words with one that went away. Source: the filing on sec.gov.