Moderna and Merck Cancer Vaccine Breakthrough Hits Milestone After Century of Failure
Moderna and Merck's cancer vaccine breakthrough marks a milestone in the fight against cancer. The companies announced that their mRNA cancer vaccine had achieved success in late-stage testing, a feat that eluded them for over 100 years of attempts.
The vaccine, known as intismeran autogene, trains the immune system to attack cancer cells by targeting mutations unique to each patient's tumors. It was tested in more than 1,000 patients with localized melanoma and showed promising results, keeping tumors from coming back or spreading.
Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel likened this moment to the day they announced their COVID-19 vaccine trial results in late 2020, saying 'It was a moment that we'd worked really hard toward. We knew what was at stake for the planet with COVID.'