Cancer vaccine from Moderna, Merck shows promise in late-stage trial; both stocks soar
Key Points
An experimental personalized cancer vaccine from Merck and Moderna showed positive initial results in its first-ever late-stage trial.
The combination regimen met the main study goal of significantly extending the time patients lived without their melanoma returning, compared with Keytruda alone, and also reduced the risk of the cancer spreading to distant parts of the body.
The initial data suggests that the combo could serve as a new treatment option for the deadliest form of skin cancer, and validate a new personalized treatment approach.
An experimental personalized cancer vaccine from Merck
and Moderna
showed positive initial results in its first-ever late-stage trial, the companies announced Wednesday, bringing them one step closer to filing for approval of the treatment option.
The mRNA-based shot in combination with Merck’s immunotherapy Keytruda met key goals in the Phase 3 trial in more than 1,100 patients with higher-risk or advanced melanoma whose detectable cancer had been completely removed through surgery.