Merck and Moderna's Melanoma Vaccine Delays Recurrence in Phase 3 Trial

A promising new treatment for melanoma recurrence has been announced by Merck and Moderna. The companies reported interim results from a phase 3 trial involving an mRNA-based experimental vaccine, which showed it delayed recurrence in high-risk patients.

The study involved 1,137 patients who had surgery to remove melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer. Participants received either Keytruda alongside the mRNA vaccine or Keytruda alone for a year.

The vaccine uses the mutations in a person's melanoma tumor and is personalized based on their specific genetic profile. It has been shown to delay recurrence, but the exact timeframe was not specified.