Personalized mRNA vaccine cuts melanoma recurrence risk by 42 percent
Moderna and Merck’s custom cancer vaccine, intismeran, lowered the risk of melanoma returning or death over two years in a late-stage study.
KEY POINTS
- Intismeran is a personalized mRNA cancer vaccine made by Moderna and Merck
- The vaccine reduced the risk of melanoma recurrence or death by 42 percent over two years
- More than 1,130 people with Stage 2B to Stage 4 melanoma took part in the study
- Results will be presented at the European Society of Medical Oncology meeting in Madrid on October 24
- An earlier Phase 2 study reported a 49 percent reduction in recurrence risk over one year
A personalized mRNA cancer vaccine significantly reduced the risk of melanoma tumors returning after surgery, according to results from a major study released by Moderna and Merck on October 22. The vaccine, called intismeran, is custom-made for each patient based on the genetic makeup of their tumor.
Adding intismeran to standard post-surgery treatment reduced the risk of melanoma returning or death by 42 percent over two years compared with current treatment. The study involved more than 1,130 people with Stage 2B to Stage 4 melanoma who had their tumors surgically removed.
“The field has been looking for a win and I think this one is a big one.”
Participants received the vaccine once every three weeks for up to nine doses, along with Keytruda every six weeks for up to nine cycles, for about a year. Others received a placebo vaccine and Keytruda.
Intismeran trains immune cells to recognize 34 specific proteins on tumor cells. The mRNA coding for these antigens is encased in a lipid particle similar to Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine.
Keytruda contributes to the response by removing the brakes that prevent immune cells from recognizing and attacking tumor cells that originate from normal self cells.
The detailed results will be presented at the European Society of Medical Oncology meeting in Madrid on October 24. Moderna and Merck had announced in August that the late-stage trial was successful.
Experts not involved with the study say its success bolsters the field of personalized cancer vaccines.
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