Key Developments in Global Health and Pharmaceuticals

Recent health sector developments highlight Moderna and Merck's promising skin cancer vaccine trial alongside China's declining birthrate, and significant business moves from pharmaceuticals giants like Novartis, AstraZeneca, and Novavax. Notable news includes AstraZeneca's transition to the NYSE and Novavax's new partnership with Pfizer to enhance vaccine development.

In a significant stride in oncology, Moderna and Merck announced that their experimental skin cancer vaccine, in conjunction with Keytruda, has shown a 49% reduction in recurrence or death risks. This data, collected over a five-year period, aligns with previous findings reported in 2023, marking a promising advancement in cancer treatment strategies.

Meanwhile, China's National Bureau of Statistics reported another year of declining population for 2025, with birthrates dropping to a record low. The country now has a population of 1.405 billion, down by 3.39 million from the previous year, alongside an increase in the death toll, suggesting a continuing demographic challenge for the nation.

In pharmaceutical business news, Novartis CEO Vas Narasimhan expressed confidence that the company's strategic arrangements with the US will mitigate exposure to tariffs by mid-2026. Concurrently, AstraZeneca announced its plans to shift its American Depositary Shares from Nasdaq to the New York Stock Exchange by February 2026, aiming to consolidate its financial operations under a single exchange.