Personalised mRNA vaccine cuts melanoma return or death risk by 42%
Late-stage trial results from Moderna and Merck show their individually tailored cancer vaccine, given with Keytruda, kept far more skin-cancer patients free of disease.
A personalised cancer vaccine developed by Moderna and Merck reduced the risk of melanoma coming back or of death by 42% in a large late-stage trial, the companies said on Thursday. The shot, called intismeran autogene, is built from the genetic profile of each patient's own tumour and was given alongside Merck's immunotherapy Keytruda, compared with Keytruda alone.
Two years after treatment, about 82% of patients who received the combination were alive with no return of their melanoma, against 70% of those given Keytruda only. The combination also cut the risk of the cancer spreading to distant parts of the body, or death, by 38%. In a separate analysis of patients who completed the six-month vaccine course, the reduction in recurrence or death reached 58%. The companies said it was too early to say whether the treatment lengthens overall survival.
Doctors involved in the study called the result a major development for patients, noting that side effects were much milder than with many cancer therapies, mostly pain at the injection site. Showing an extra benefit on top of an already effective drug such as Keytruda is usually difficult, Merck's research chief said.
Partial data leaked before the official release, and Moderna's shares fell as much as 25% on Thursday even though the full figures were broadly in line with or better than analysts had hoped. Detailed results are due to be presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology congress this weekend.