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Merck and Moderna say cancer vaccine shows promise in preventing recurrence of melanoma
NBC News • • general
Key Points:
- Moderna and Merck announced that their experimental mRNA-based vaccine, Intismeran, combined with Merck’s Keytruda immunotherapy, has shown signs of preventing melanoma from returning or spreading in high-risk patients during a late-stage trial.
- The companies have not yet published detailed results in a peer-reviewed journal but plan to present the data at an upcoming medical meeting and share it with regulators.
- Interim trial results suggest the vaccine-drug combination extends the time before cancer recurrence, building on earlier findings that halved the risk of melanoma returning after five years.
- The vaccine is personalized to target neoantigens on cancer cells and represents a significant advancement in cancer immunotherapy, with ongoing studies to assess overall survival benefits.
- Following the announcement, Moderna’s shares surged over 100% in premarket trading, while Merck’s shares rose 7%.
