A groundbreaking cancer vaccine developed by Moderna and Merck has shown promising results in reducing the recurrence of melanoma tumors. The vaccine, called intismeran, is personalized for each patient based on their tumor's unique genetic mutations. According to a major study released Thursday, adding intismeran to standard post-surgery treatment cut the risk of melanoma returning by 42 percent over two years.
The study involved over 1,100 patients with high-risk melanoma who had undergone surgery. Participants received either the custom vaccine or a placebo alongside Merck’s immunotherapy drug Keytruda. Two years later, 82 percent of the vaccine group remained cancer-free compared to 70 percent in the placebo group. The vaccine uses mRNA technology, similar to COVID-19 vaccines, to train the immune system to recognize and attack cancer-specific proteins.
Experts in the field have hailed the results as a significant advancement. Dr. Hussein Tawbi of MD Anderson Cancer Center called it a major win, while Dr. Michael Atkins of Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center described it as a big step forward for oncology. The vaccine’s side effects were mild, similar to those of mRNA coronavirus vaccines.
Moderna and Merck are now discussing regulatory approval for intismeran. The process of creating the vaccine takes about six weeks, including genetic analysis of the tumor. While the cost of the vaccine has not been disclosed, customized medicines are generally expensive. Moderna shares dropped 18 percent Thursday after the detailed results were released, though they remained more than 200 percent higher than in late August before initial results were announced.