Merck and Moderna's mRNA Therapy Shows Promise in Treating Advanced Melanoma
Merck and Moderna have announced positive results from their phase 3 trial of intismeran autogene, an mRNA-based individualised neoantigen therapy in combination with Keytruda (pembrolizumab), to treat patients with completely resected stage IIB-IV melanoma.
The treatment is designed specifically for each patient based on the unique set of mutations within their tumour, and has demonstrated statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in recurrence-free survival and distant metastasis-free survival compared to Keytruda alone.
Melanoma is one of the deadliest forms of skin cancer, with over 330,000 new cases diagnosed worldwide in 2022. In the US, it is estimated that there will be about 112,000 new cases of melanoma diagnosed and over 8,500 deaths resulting from the disease in 2026 alone.
Professor Georgina Long, the study's principal investigator, said 'These results represent a landmark moment for adjuvant melanoma treatment. This is the first phase 3 study to show that intismeran, a treatment designed based on the unique mutational 'fingerprint' of a patient's own tumour, given in combination with pembrolizumab, can reduce the risk of recurrence or death in patients with completely resected stage IIB-IV melanoma compared to Keytruda alone.'