Moderna, Inc. (MRNA) shares plummeted 5.02% in intraday trading, despite the company's announcement of a significant expansion in the United Kingdom. The stock's sharp decline comes on the heels of Moderna opening its new manufacturing and research facility in Oxfordshire, raising questions about investor sentiment towards the pharmaceutical industry's future in the UK.

The company unveiled its Moderna Innovation and Technology Center (MITC) at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, marking a milestone as the UK's first facility to manufacture an onshore supply of mRNA vaccines. The site boasts an annual production capacity of up to 100 million vaccine doses, expandable to 250 million in case of a pandemic. This development is part of Moderna's £1 billion, 10-year strategic partnership with the UK government, which also includes substantial investments in research and development.

However, the stock's downturn suggests that investors may be focusing on broader industry concerns rather than Moderna's individual expansion. Recent criticisms of UK drug pricing policies by other pharmaceutical giants, including Merck & Co. Inc.'s cancellation of a planned $1.36 billion London research center, have cast a shadow over the sector. While Moderna's UK chief, Darius Hughes, defended Britain's stance, stating, "We're here to invest," the market seems to be pricing in potential challenges facing the pharmaceutical industry in the UK.