Moderna's Melanoma Vaccine: A Promising Breakthrough with Pricey Consequences
The mRNA technology that powered COVID-19 vaccines has shown promising results in treating melanoma, according to a recent study by Moderna and Merck. The phase 3 trial found that patients who received Moderna's vaccine, intisimeran (mRNA-4157), along with Merck's Keytruda (pembrolizumab) had a longer time without cancer recurrence compared to those who only received Keytruda.
Moderna's vaccine is a personalized treatment that targets individual tumor neoantigens, making it a bespoke therapy. While the initial results are encouraging, scientists caution that more data is needed to determine its effectiveness in overall survival rates.
The study raises concerns about access and affordability, as Keytruda alone costs around $12,000 for a short-term dose, with yearly treatment regimens reaching up to $200,000. Moderna's new vaccine is expected to be priced similarly, making it inaccessible to many patients.