Moderna and Merck's Melanoma Vaccine Shows Promise in Preventing Cancer Recurrence
Moderna and Merck have announced promising results from their experimental melanoma vaccine treatment. The companies tested the mRNA-based vaccine, called Intismeran, in a late-stage trial involving high-risk melanoma patients who had already undergone surgery to remove the cancer.
The study involved administering the personalized cancer vaccine in combination with Merck's cancer immunotherapy Keytruda. Interim results show that the treatment combo appeared to extend the time before cancer returned in high-risk patients, although the exact duration was not specified.
This is a significant breakthrough for the field of cancer research, according to Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel. 'These Phase 3 findings represent a pivotal moment for the field of cancer research,' he said in a statement. The study will continue to examine overall survival rates following the treatment.