Merck and Moderna Report Positive Melanoma Vaccine Trial Results
On Wednesday, US pharmaceutical companies Merck and Moderna revealed that their experimental melanoma vaccine, intismeran autogene, achieved significant milestones in a Phase 3 trial in conjunction with Merck's Keytruda, demonstrating notable benefits for patients with skin cancer. This represents the inaugural positive Phase 3 outcome for a personalized neoantigen therapy and an mRNA-based cancer treatment. Intismeran autogene trains the immune system to target tumor cells. Following this announcement, Moderna's stock price soared by over 90% to approximately US$120, while Merck's shares rose by 10%. The trial's success underscores the potential of mRNA technology beyond infectious diseases and brings renewed hope for melanoma patients. Further analysis and regulatory assessments will dictate the next steps, potentially leading to the first authorized mRNA-based cancer vaccine.
Key facts
- Merck and Moderna announced encouraging results from a Phase 3 trial of melanoma vaccine intismeran autogene.
- The vaccine showed statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements when used with Merck's Keytruda treatment.
- Intismeran autogene is a therapeutic vaccine that treats melanoma by training the immune system against tumours.
- Moderna's shares rose over 90% to about US$120 in early New York trading.
- Merck's stock increased by 10% following the announcement.
- This is the first positive Phase 3 readout for an individualised neoantigen therapy and an mRNA-based cancer therapy.
- The vaccine uses messenger RNA technology, which was highly effective against serious forms of Covid-19.
- Melanoma is a type of skin cancer associated with sun exposure.
Entities
Institutions
- Merck
- Moderna
- Shutterstock
- Keytruda
Locations
- United States
- New York
Sources
- SCMP Culture —
- Quartz —