Moderna and Merck mRNA Cancer Vaccine Clears Phase 3 Trial
Moderna and Merck have successfully completed a large phase 3 clinical trial for their experimental mRNA-based cancer treatment, intismeran autogene. This personalized therapy targets melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, by customizing a vaccine to match each patient's unique tumor mutations.
The study involved 1,137 people with stage 2 to stage 4 melanoma who received surgery and then were randomly assigned to receive either the combination of therapies or Keytruda for just over a year. The results show that those receiving intismeran and Keytruda lived longer without any recurrence of their cancer, as well as had fewer incidences of their cancer spreading.
Moderna President Stephen Hoge called this a 'landmark moment' for the field, while CEO Stephane Bancel said it could be transformational. The companies are already in talks with regulators about approval and hope to launch commercially next year.