Merck and Moderna Collaborate on Personalized Cancer Therapies

Cancer research is shifting towards more personalized approaches, recognizing that each person's cancer is unique. Merck and Moderna are collaborating on an innovative approach to cancer care using individualized neoantigen therapies (INTs). These treatments aim to train a patient's immune system to specifically target their cancer cells.

According to Dr. Vassiliki Karantza, Associate Vice President of Global Clinical Development at Merck Research Laboratories, 'Because the genetic makeup of a patient's cancer is unique to that person, we believe there is a need for innovative therapies that can be tailored to a patient's tumor with the potential to enhance immune surveillance for each person's specific cancer.'

INTs work by identifying genetic mutations in a patient's cancer through an analysis of their blood and tumor samples. This information is used to select which neoantigens may be best suited to activate the patient's immune cells. An INT is then created to specifically target the individual patient's cancer.

The researchers are currently conducting studies to better understand how INTs can help train the body's immune system. There are no U.S. FDA-approved individualized neoantigen therapies yet.