Here’s what Moderna’s latest mRNA cancer vaccine data actually show
The Moderna-Merck mRNA cancer vaccine helps prevent cancer recurrence and death, the new results show
Moderna and Merck's phase 3 clinical trial for an mRNA-based skin cancer vaccine has produced encouraging results, prompting the companies to release early data. The trial involved 1,137 patients with high-risk melanoma and found that the combination of a personalized mRNA-vaccine and pembrolizumab reduced the risk of cancer recurrence or death by 42% compared to pembrolizumab alone.
Additionally, the dual treatment reduced the risk of cancer spreading or causing death by 38% compared to pembrolizumab alone. While overall survival data is yet to be included, these findings are considered "really encouraging" by Karen Knudsen, CEO of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy. Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel stated that these results reinforce the potential of mRNA technology to fundamentally change cancer treatment. The companies are now engaging with regulatory authorities to seek approval for their mRNA vaccine.
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