Hope for melanoma patients: New vaccine trial yields positive results
The first positive results from an mRNA-based cancer therapy for melanoma have been announced by Merck and Moderna, signalling a potential breakthrough in treatment.
Merck and Moderna pharmaceutical companies unveiled promising results from a trial of their experimental melanoma vaccine on Wednesday, potentially paving the way for regulatory approval. The vaccine, named intismeran autogene, demonstrated statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in skin cancer patients when combined with Merck's Keytruda treatment, according to the companies' statement.
Unlike traditional vaccines that prevent diseases, therapeutic vaccines like intismeran directly target cancer, training the patient's immune system to attack tumors. This marks the first positive Phase 3 trial outcome for an individualized neoantigen therapy (INT) and an mRNA-based cancer treatment, leveraging the same technology that proved effective against severe Covid-19 cases.
The companies refrained from disclosing specific study details or a timeline for FDA approval, stating that both the FDA and European Medicines Agency had placed the therapy on an expedited review track. Melanoma, a particularly aggressive form of skin cancer, saw over 330,000 new diagnoses worldwide in 2022, according to the companies.
Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel expressed excitement about turning the vision of an mRNA treatment tailored to each patient's cancer into reality. Following the announcement, Moderna's shares surged by approximately 65 percent in New York Stock Exchange trading ahead of the market's opening on Wednesday.
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