- Published on
Moderna and Merck say their mRNA cancer vaccine cut death, recurrence by 42%
- Authors
- Name
- DeepHorus
Moderna and Merck announced Thursday that their personalized mRNA cancer vaccine reduced the risk of death or recurrence by 42% compared to standard treatment in a late-stage melanoma trial. The companies are already engaging with regulatory authorities to seek approval. The results mark a significant advance and bolster hope for mRNA cancer therapies.
Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer. The vaccine is tailored to each patient's tumor to train the immune system to attack cancer cells. The Phase 3 trial included 1,137 patients with stage IIBâIV melanoma that had been surgically removed.
Patients were randomized 2-1 to receive either the vaccine plus Merck's Keytruda or Keytruda alone. The data was presented at the European Society of Medical Oncology conference in Madrid. It has been accepted for publication in the New England Journal of Medicine.
The results bolster hope that mRNA vaccines and individualized cancer-targeting medicines offer a new paradigm for cancer therapies. Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel said the trial results "mark a defining moment" for the vision of developing treatments uniquely matched to each patient's tumor. He said this reinforces conviction that mRNA can change cancer treatment.
The companies are already engaging with regulatory authorities to get the vaccine approved. The success could pave the way for personalized mRNA vaccines against other cancers. Merck and Moderna are collaborating on further development.
In August, the companies reported that the vaccine succeeded in the trial but withheld details until the conference. After an oncology news site broke the embargo, the companies released top-line results. The full data has been accepted for publication.
Regulatory submissions are expected, with potential approval in the coming years. This could mark a major shift in oncology. The trial results are a significant advance in melanoma treatment.
