Merck Stock Soars on Positive Melanoma Vaccine Trial Results
Merck & Co. (NYSE: MRK) shares surged by around 12% after the company announced positive results from its Phase 3 trial of intismeran autogene in combination with KEYTRUDA for treating high-risk melanoma patients.
The study, known as INTerpath-001, recruited 1,137 patients who had undergone surgical resection and showed that the combination therapy demonstrated clinical efficacy and statistically significant improvements in Recurrence Free Survival and Distant Metastasis Free Survival. The safety profile remained consistent with previously reported findings.
Intismeran autogene is an individualized neoantigen therapy manufactured based on a patient's tumor genetic profile, designed to train the immune system against cancer cells. Merck and Moderna intend to present detailed Phase 3 results at a planned medical meeting and discuss regulatory submissions with international agencies.