Merck and Moderna's mRNA Cancer Vaccine Shows Promising Results
A new personalized mRNA cancer vaccine has shown promising results in preventing melanoma recurrence. According to a Phase 3 trial by Merck and Moderna, over 1,100 people with melanoma who had undergone surgery were given the vaccine paired with Keytruda, an immunotherapy medication.
The study found that this combination significantly reduced the risk of cancer returning compared to using Keytruda alone. Dr. John Cooke, director of the Center for RNA Therapeutics at Houston Methodist, described the results as an 'exciting breakthrough' and noted that mRNA vaccines could potentially be effective against other types of cancer.
The vaccine technology was instrumental in developing COVID-19 treatments during the pandemic, and a new mRNA flu vaccine is expected to be approved this fall. Researchers are exploring ways to develop these therapies for other types of cancers, including bladder and lung cancer.