Merck/Moderna cancer vaccine cuts risk of melanoma death or recurrence by over 40%
MRK•A Phase 3 trial found that Moderna and Merck’s cancer vaccine combined with Keytruda cut the risk of melanoma death or recurrence by 42% and disease spread by 38%. After two years, 82.2% of patients receiving the combination were cancer-free, compared with 70% receiving Keytruda alone.
1. Trial results
Moderna and Merck said their mRNA cancer vaccine, combined with Merck’s Keytruda, cut the risk of melanoma death or recurrence by 42% and disease spread by 38% in a Phase 3 trial of more than 1,100 patients. The results cover the first two years after treatment and are scheduled to be presented Saturday at a meeting in Madrid.
2. Treatment details
Patients received nine doses of the vaccine, known as intismeran, along with Keytruda, beginning 13 weeks after surgery to remove melanoma lesions. After two years, 82.2% of patients who received the combination were cancer-free, compared with 70% of those treated with Keytruda alone.
3. Share reaction
Moderna shares fell more than 20% after the results leaked on an oncology website, while Merck shares were down about 0.7%. Trial investigator Dr. Hussein Tawbi said the results were “highly statistically significant” and “not by chance.”
