ESMO 2026: First phase 3 trial results for a personalised cancer vaccine

The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) held its annual conference, where researchers presented encouraging phase 3 trial results for a personalized melanoma vaccine. The vaccine, named Intismeran, utilized mRNA technology similar to that found in COVID-19 vaccines, combined with the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab. This combination reduced the risk of death or recurrence in melanoma patients' skin cancer by 42% over a two-year period compared to immunotherapy alone.

Unlike traditional vaccines, Intismeran is developed as a treatment specifically for patients with advanced melanoma that had been surgically removed but had a high risk of recurring. Dr Catherine Elliott, Cancer Research UK’s director of research, expressed excitement about the potential of this new treatment, stating that the same science that helped protect against COVID-19 could now be used to treat cancer.

However, personalized cancer vaccines are not expected to become commonplace for some time due to the difficulty, expense, and time required to create them for each patient. The trial will continue to monitor the vaccine's effectiveness over time and assess its impact on overall survival. Further regulatory review is needed, which may take several years.