Moderna and Merck say their mRNA cancer vaccine cut death, recurrence by 42%
Summary
Moderna and Merck announced that their personalized mRNA cancer vaccine reduced the risk of death or cancer returning by 42 percent in patients with melanoma compared to standard treatment. The vaccine is designed to target specific mutations in a patient’s cancer and was tested together with Merck’s Keytruda drug in a late-stage trial.Key Facts
- The vaccine tested is called intismeran (mRNA-4157) and uses mRNA to create a personalized treatment based on each patient's tumor mutations.
- The trial included 1,137 patients with stage IIB-IV melanoma who had surgery before joining the study.
- Patients received either intismeran plus Keytruda or Keytruda plus a placebo.
- After two years, the group receiving intismeran and Keytruda had a 42% lower risk of cancer returning or death.
- 82% of the intismeran-Keytruda group were alive without cancer returning after two years, compared to 70% in the Keytruda-only group.
- For distant metastasis (cancer spreading to new areas), the risk reduction was 38% with the vaccine combination.
- The data is considered a big step forward for using mRNA technology to treat cancer.
- The companies are working with health authorities to get approval for the vaccine.
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