Moderna and Merck announce Phase 3 trial results for a personalized mRNA cancer vaccine
Moderna and Merck jointly announced the primary findings of a Phase 3 trial for their experimental mRNA-based vaccine, intismeran autogene. The vaccine is designed to prevent the recurrence of high-risk melanoma. Patients who received the vaccine in combination with the immunotherapy drug Keytruda lived significantly longer without cancer reoccurrence than those who received Keytruda alone. Stéphane Bancel, CEO of Moderna, stated that these findings represent a pivotal moment for cancer research, moving the vision of personalized mRNA treatments into reality. The vaccine is produced using a patient’s tumor sample to identify unique mutational signatures, training the immune system to recognize up to 34 different neoantigens. While the results are promising, the data has yet to be verified by outside researchers. If approved by the Food and Drug Administration, intismeran could become a primary treatment for various cancers with high risks of metastasis. The success of this vaccine would also bolster the reputation of mRNA technology, which has faced scrutiny from supporters of the antivaccination movement.