Moderna Vaccine with Immunotherapy Cuts Melanoma Recurrence by 42%
A personalized mRNA vaccine developed by Moderna and Merck reduced the risk of high-risk melanoma returning or the patient dying by 42% when combined with the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab, according to clinical trial results.
Data Leak Triggers Market Volatility Ahead of Madrid Presentation
The phase III trial evaluated 1,137 participants with moderate to advanced melanoma across 157 centers. Trial participants underwent surgery to remove tumors before being assigned to receive either the custom vaccine, intismeran, alongside pembrolizumab or the immunotherapy drug alone with a placebo. By the two-year mark, 82.2% of vaccinated patients remained cancer-free, compared to 70% in the control group.
Anticipation for the findings had built since August, when the companies first announced positive top-line data. However, the full disclosure was accelerated after data leaked online on October 22. Moderna shares dropped approximately 25% following the leak, a downward correction that BMO Capital Markets healthcare financial analyst Evan Seigerman attributed to inflated market expectations rather than a flaw in the therapy’s efficacy. Moderna stock subsequently extended its losses by another 4%, while co-developer Merck saw its shares slip less than 1%.
Today we announced detailed positive results from the Phase 3 INTerpath-001 study evaluating intismeran autogene (mRNA-4157 or V940), an investigational mRNA-based individualized neoantigen therapy, in combination with KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab), @Merck's anti-PD-1 therapy, in… pic.twitter.com/gZjS6m7Vpk
Merck Aims to Shorten Production Timelines for Oncology Vaccines
Merck CEO Robert Davis told CNBC that the companies aim to shorten that production timeline in the future. Meanwhile, Merck Research Laboratories President Dean Li noted that a separate analysis showed a 58% reduction in the risk of recurrence or death after the completion of the six-month vaccine regimen.
Despite the positive data, limitations remain. Centenary Institute cancer geneticist Jessamy Tiffen pointed out that some patients failed to respond to the treatment and that cancer cells can adapt over time. Trial leader Georgina Long of the Melanoma Institute Australia stated that researchers will conduct further statistical analyses to determine which patient demographics benefit most from the combination therapy. Formal presentation of the complete phase III dataset is scheduled for October 24 at the European Society for Medical Oncology meeting in Madrid.
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Moderna and Merck’s personalized mRNA cancer vaccine reduced melanoma recurrence by 42%. We already have a vaccine that prevents cancer (HPV). Now we’re going to have vaccines individually targeted to treat your cancer. This is the same technology that our government cut NIH…
How to improve outcomes in patients with metastatic melanoma post-surgical resection, and specifically, vs controls:—Reduce 2-year mortality from 82 to 70%—Reduce recurrence by 42%Treat with a personalized mRNA neoantigen vaccine@statnews @adamfeuerstein…
excellent news on skin cancer, and perhaps for cancer in general.mRNA vaccines are turning out to be some of the best things humans have invented; crazy how politics led many people to freak out about them.https://t.co/1TJXGUCr6v