Vaccine Breakthrough Stops Cancer Returning in Trial
BBC News Report
By Joe McFadden, Health Reporter
Published 11 minutes ago
A new personalized vaccine, developed by Merck and Moderna, has shown promising results in a trial, stopping skin cancer from returning in patients with high-risk melanoma.
Key Findings:
- The vaccine, named Intismeran, was administered to patients post-surgery along with Keytruda, an existing immunotherapy drug.
- Combining the two treatments significantly extended the time patients remained cancer-free and reduced the risk of metastasis (spread to other organs).
- Over 1,000 patients participated in the phase three trial, which included those with stage two, three, or four melanoma.
Personalized Approach
Merck and Moderna are classifying this as a personalized vaccine due to its targeted nature. Using mRNA technology—similar to some COVID-19 vaccines—scientists analyze specific mutations within cancer cells by sequencing a patient’s tumor DNA. This leads to a tailored anti-cancer jab that instructs the immune system to recognize and combat remaining tumor cells.
Market Impact and Future Research
The companies are also testing similar personalized vaccines for lung, bladder, and kidney cancers. The announcement has caused shares in both Moderna and Merck to surge.
Cancer experts welcome these findings but emphasize caution, noting that interim data requires full review. Dr. Talisia Quallo from Cancer Research UK highlights the need for continued research into personalized treatment options.
Dr. Lennard Lee, a consultant medical oncologist at the University of Oxford, adds:
"This is certainly good news for patients with melanoma, but the study has much wider implications. It provides proof of principle that personalized cancer vaccines work."
