mRNA cancer vaccine succeeded in Phase 3 melanoma trial, Moderna and Merck say
Pharmaceutical companies Moderna and Merck announced that their personalized mRNA cancer vaccine, intismeran (mRNA-4157), showed success in a Phase 3 clinical trial for melanoma patients. When combined with Merck's Keytruda, the vaccine significantly extended recurrence-free survival and distant metastasis-free survival.
Why it matters
This represents a significant breakthrough in cancer therapy, potentially offering a new, highly effective treatment for melanoma and validating the potential of individualized mRNA vaccines for cancer. It could lead to improved outcomes for patients with one of the deadliest forms of skin cancer.
mRNA FTW mRNA cancer vaccine succeeded in Phase 3 melanoma trial, Moderna and Merck say The vaccine reportedly thwarted the cancer’s return and spread.
14 Credit: DeFodi Images Credit: DeFodi Images Text settings Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only Learn more Minimize to nav Pharmaceutical partners Moderna and Merck announced on Wednesday that their novel mRNA-based vaccine—individually tailored to target a patient’s unique cancer mutations—was effective in a late-stage clinical trial of patients with melanoma, one of the deadliest forms of skin cancer.
The announcement was scant on details, but if the success holds, it stands to realize the high aspirations for both mRNA vaccines and individualized cancer-targeting medicines in cancer therapy, providing a first success for both treatment types.
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