Moderna Shares Skyrocket on Promising mRNA Cancer Treatment Results
Moderna shares surged on August 19 after the company reported promising initial results from a study of its experimental personalized mRNA cancer treatment, intismeran. The treatment is being co-developed with Merck and uses an mRNA-based vaccine tailored to individual patients based on unique mutations within their tumors.
The study compared intismeran paired with Keytruda, an immunotherapy drug made by Merck, against Keytruda alone in melanoma patients. According to the companies, those who received the combination treatment lived longer without their cancer returning or metastasizing than those who received Keytruda alone.
However, Moderna and Merck did not disclose how long patients survived without their cancer returning, nor whether those receiving the combination treatment lived longer overall. They plan to present the study results at an upcoming international medical meeting.