Moderna and Merck's mRNA cancer vaccine cuts melanoma risk by 42%
Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 23 Oct, 01:32 · Archive
A personalised mRNA cancer vaccine combined with Merck's immunotherapy reduced the risk of melanoma death or recurrence by 42% in a late-stage trial.
A personalised mRNA cancer vaccine combined with Merck's immunotherapy Keytruda reduced the risk of melanoma death or recurrence by 42% in a Phase 3 trial of over 1,100 patients, Moderna and Merck announced on Thursday. The combination also reduced the risk of cancer spreading by 38%. This is the first data demonstrating that pairing a custom vaccine based on a patient's unique tumour mutations with an immunotherapy drug can successfully halt the disease.
Keytruda works by removing a natural brake that cancer cells use to hide from immune attack. The mRNA vaccine instructs patient cells to produce copies of specific mutations, allowing the immune system to seek out and destroy them. Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel said the findings mark a defining moment and show what is possible when rethinking how medicines are made.
The data was scheduled to be presented at the European Society of Medical Oncology conference in Madrid on Saturday, but after an oncology news site reported the results early, the companies released the top-line findings. The full data has been accepted for publication in the New England Journal of Medicine. The companies are preparing to file for US regulatory approval, with Bancel noting they expect to launch the personalised cancer vaccine in 2027.
How it is being reported
- Moderna and Merck say their mRNA cancer vaccine cut death, recurrence by 42%Markers released top-line results today after previously reporting the trial succeeded.Ars Technica · 22 Oct, 23:12
- mRNA cancer vaccine slashes melanoma death or recurrence risk by 42%Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel said that the findings herald a new chapter in treating cancerIndependent World · 22 Oct, 21:27
In this story: Moderna · Merck · Stephane Bancel · European Society of Medical Oncology · Madrid · New England Journal of Medicine
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