Moderna Cancer Treatment Shows Promise in Early Study Results

Moderna's shares surged after the company announced initial results from a study of its experimental personalized mRNA cancer treatment.

The treatment, being developed in partnership with Merck, uses an mRNA-based vaccine called intismeran that is tailored to individual patients based on unique mutations within their tumors.

In current studies, intismeran is paired with Keytruda, an immunotherapy drug made by Merck. The companies compared the combination treatment to Keytruda alone in melanoma patients and found that those receiving the combination lived longer without their cancer returning or metastasizing.

Moderna shares climbed more than 120 percent to $140.12 a share following the announcement, while Merck shares rose about 11 percent.