Moderna, IBM explore blockchain tech, AI to support 'smarter' management of COVID-19 vaccines

Moderna Inc. and International Business Machines Corp. announced Thursday plans to work together to find technologies to support "smarter COVID-19 vaccine management." The technologies the companies will explore include artificial intelligence, blockchain and hybrid cloud, the companies said. "Moderna is committed to working with a coalition of partners to increase education and awareness of the importance of vaccination to help defeat COVID-19," said Michael Mullette, a managing director of North America commercial operations at Moderna. "We look forward to working with IBM to apply digital innovations to build connections between organizations, governments, and individuals to instill confidence in COVID-19 vaccines." Moderna's stock rose 1.6% in midday trading and IBM shares fell 0.7%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 118 points, or 0.4%. Moderna currently has one of three COVID-19 vaccines granted emergency use authorization by the Food and Drug Administration, the others being from Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE and Johnson & Johnson .

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