mRNA Therapy Shows Dramatic Improvement in Melanoma Treatment
A groundbreaking Phase III clinical trial has confirmed that mRNA technology can be used to treat melanoma, marking a significant breakthrough in cancer treatment.
The trial, INTerpath-001, was conducted by Moderna and Merck & Co. (MSD outside of North America) and involved over 1,100 patients with Stage IIB, IV cutaneous melanoma.
The researchers found that the combination of mRNA-lipid nanoparticle (LNP) therapeutic intismeran autogene (mRNA-4157 or V940) and Merck's checkpoint inhibitor antibody pembrolizumab (Keytruda) dramatically improved treatment and survival rates compared to the antibody alone.
This is the first mRNA immunotherapy to pass the final hurdle of a Phase III clinical trial, and intismeran is also the first bespoke cancer immunotherapy with a chance of receiving regulatory approval.