Moderna and Merck announce ‘landmark’ trial showing mRNA therapy significantly cuts odds of recurrent skin cancer
The combined drug works by nudging the body’s own immune system to make proteins that attack and destroy melanoma cells
A "landmark" clinical trial conducted by Merck and Moderna has demonstrated that a combined therapy using mRNA technology can significantly reduce the odds of melanoma recurrence and improve overall survival rates, according to a joint statement released by the pharmaceutical companies. The combined drug works by prompting the body's immune system to create proteins that attack and destroy melanoma cells.
The phase 3 trial involved over 2 percent of people who will be affected by melanoma at some point in their lives. While melanoma is treatable when caught early, if the disease spreads to other parts of the body, the five-year survival rate can drop to between 16 percent and 35 percent. The therapy, called intismeran autogene, is developed based on the unique mutational "fingerprint" of the patient's tumor.
Scientists are increasingly optimistic about the potential of mRNA technology in cancer treatment, as it has become the basis for numerous proposed cancer treatments and vaccines. Merck and Moderna's trial results are set to be published soon, and the drug will need to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration before it can be used in clinics.
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