mRNA Vaccine Plus Keytruda Cuts Melanoma Recurrence or Death Risk 42%
Updated
Updated · CNN · Oct 22
mRNA Vaccine Plus Keytruda Cuts Melanoma Recurrence or Death Risk 42%
3 articles · Updated · CNN · Oct 22
Summary
A personalized experimental mRNA vaccine paired with Keytruda cut the risk of melanoma returning after surgery or patients dying by 42% versus Keytruda alone in a late-stage trial.
The result gives Moderna and Merck a potential first-in-class cancer vaccine approach, using a personalized mRNA treatment rather than a standard one-size-fits-all therapy.
Madrid will host the full data presentation Saturday at the European Society for Medical Oncology meeting after Merck released the figures early following reports they briefly appeared online and were removed.
Melanoma specialists called the efficacy unusually strong, suggesting the trial could open a new treatment path for patients after surgery.