Merck-Moderna Cancer Vaccine Trial Yields Promising Late-Stage Results
Pharmaceutical companies Merck and Moderna announced positive results from their joint late-stage trial of an experimental cancer vaccine. The mRNA-based shot, combined with Merck's immunotherapy Keytruda, met key goals in a Phase 3 trial involving over 1,100 patients with advanced melanoma.
The treatment significantly extended the time patients lived without their melanoma returning, compared to using Keytruda alone. It also reduced the risk of cancer spreading to distant parts of the body, building on earlier positive Phase 2 trial data.
Merck's shares rose over 10% in morning trading, while Moderna's stock soared more than 120%. The companies' relative size played a role in their market cap differences: Merck has around $333 billion, while Moderna sits near $25 billion.
Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel called the results 'a big moment for medicine, a big moment for patients.'