Moderna cancer vaccine shows strong results despite share plunge

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 22 Oct, 23:08 · Archive

Moderna's stock fell sharply after leaked data on its melanoma vaccine, though the full results later released were positive.

Moderna's stock fell as much as 25% on Thursday following a leak of partial data on its closely watched cancer vaccine, developed with Merck. Although the companies released full results later that day, and these appeared meaningful for patients, the share price decline reflected the data's impact when first disclosed.

The personalised vaccine, intismeran autogene, paired with Merck's immunotherapy Keytruda reduced the risk of recurrence or death in certain melanoma patients by 42% compared with Keytruda alone. The vaccine with Keytruda also reduced the risk of cancer spreading to distant parts of the body or death by 38%. A separate analysis showed a 58% reduction in risk of recurrence or death after the six-month vaccine regimen. About 82% of patients who received the vaccine alongside Keytruda were alive without their melanoma returning at two years, compared with 70% receiving Keytruda alone.

Dr. Hussein Tawbi, a melanoma expert and trial investigator at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, said the results represented 'a huge development for our patients'. He noted the added benefit of the vaccine came with much milder side effects, such as injection-site pain, compared to other cancer treatments. The Financial Times reports the results missed Wall Street's expectations despite their clinical strength. The full phase 3 trial results were set to be presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology conference that weekend.

How it is being reported

• Moderna shares sink after leaked cancer data missed expectationsMelanoma vaccine treatment cut risk of recurrence or death by 58% but failed to exceed Wall Street’s lofty expectationsFinancial Times · 22 Oct, 22:37
• Moderna shares plunge after leak of cancer vaccine data despite positive resultsModerna's stock fell even though the full data, released later Thursday, appeared positive based on Wall Street expectations ahead of the release.CNBC · 22 Oct, 19:51

In this story: Moderna · Merck · Keytruda · University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center · European Society for Medical Oncology

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem