Moderna and Merck report mRNA cancer vaccine cuts melanoma recurrence risk in late-stage trial
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Moderna and Merck report mRNA cancer vaccine cuts melanoma recurrence risk in late-stage trial
Moderna shares surge over 150% after positive melanoma vaccine trial results: U.S. Treasury doubles bond buybacks
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Moderna and Merck announced on Wednesday that a personalized mRNA cancer vaccine, developed jointly, reduced the risk of recurrence and spread of melanoma in a late-stage trial involving over 1,100 patients. The vaccine, called Intismeran, was tested in combination with Merck’s immunotherapy drug Keytruda and demonstrated a "clinically meaningful improvement" over Keytruda alone, according to the companies .
The trial focused on patients with high-risk melanoma that had been surgically removed but carried a significant risk of returning. Moderna President Stephen Hoge said thousands of melanoma patients could benefit within the first few years of approval, pending regulatory clearance . The companies plan to submit the full results at an upcoming medical meeting and have begun discussions with regulators .
Moderna’s stock surged as much as 177% on Wednesday, while Merck’s shares rose 12.6% following the announcement . The vaccine represents the first positive Phase 3 results for an mRNA-based cancer therapy, the companies stated in a joint release .
The trial divided 1,137 patients into groups, with two-thirds receiving the vaccine alongside Keytruda and the remainder treated with Keytruda alone. Study leader Georgina Long, medical director of the Melanoma Institute Australia, called the results a "milestone in the adjuvant treatment" of melanoma .
Beyond melanoma, the companies are conducting late-stage trials for non-small cell lung cancers and mid-stage trials for bladder and kidney cancers, with early-stage studies underway for pancreatic and stomach cancers. Additional results are expected in the next one to two years, Hoge told Reuters . Roche and BioNTech are also testing a similar mRNA-based treatment, autogene cevumeran, in mid-stage studies for colon and pancreatic cancers, with colon cancer trial results anticipated in 2027 .
The safety profile of the combination treatment aligned with earlier studies, showing no new risks, according to Hoge . The companies did not specify a timeline for regulatory approval but indicated they are preparing submissions to authorities.
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