Moderna and Merck mRNA Vaccine Cuts Melanoma Recurrence Risk by 42% in Major Trial
A study of over 1,100 patients showed that Moderna's personalized mRNA vaccine intismeran, combined with Merck's Keytruda, reduced melanoma recurrence risk by 42%. Results were released early after a data leak, triggering an 18% drop in Moderna shares.
A major clinical trial conducted by Moderna and Merck has demonstrated that the personalized mRNA cancer vaccine intismeran, when combined with Merck’s immunotherapy Keytruda, reduced the risk of melanoma returning by 42 per cent two years after surgery. The study included more than 1,100 people with high-risk melanoma that had been surgically removed.
Two years post-surgery, 82 per cent of participants in the vaccine group were living without cancer recurrence, compared to 70 per cent in the group receiving only standard Keytruda therapy. Dr. Hussein Tawbi of MD Anderson Cancer Center stated the results are highly statistically significant and not due to chance.
The vaccine is custom-made for each patient based on gene mutations unique to their tumor, creating neoantigens for the immune system to target. The manufacturing process for the personalized vaccine takes roughly six weeks from analyzing tumor genetics to final production. The treatment regimen consists of nine doses of the vaccine given three weeks apart.
Detailed results were scheduled for release at the European Society of Medical Oncology meeting in Madrid but were provided early by Moderna and Merck after data leaked online. Moderna shares dropped 18 per cent following the leak of full study results, though they remained more than 200 per cent higher than before initial August announcements. Merck shares closed down about 1.8 per cent after the results were released.