Key facts
- Moderna and Merck's mRNA cancer vaccine, intismeran autogene, has shown success in late-stage trials for melanoma.
- The vaccine works by training the immune system to attack cancer cells based on unique tumor mutations.
- In a trial of over 1,000 patients, the vaccine prevented tumor recurrence or spread.
- This is the first therapeutic cancer vaccine to demonstrate success in late-stage testing after more than a century of failures.
- The companies are exploring the vaccine's potential for other cancer types with fewer mutations.
Moderna and Merck have achieved a significant milestone in cancer treatment with their mRNA vaccine, intismeran autogene, which has demonstrated success in late-stage trials for melanoma. This breakthrough marks the first time a therapeutic cancer vaccine has proven effective in late-stage testing after more than a century of failed attempts. The vaccine works by training the patient's immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells based on mutations unique to their tumors. In a trial involving over 1,000 patients with localized melanoma, the vaccine successfully prevented tumors from returning or spreading. Cancer experts view this as the dawn of a new era for personalized cancer vaccines.
For Merck and Moderna, this success is the culmination of a decade-long collaboration, initiated in 2016. Merck's existing powerhouse drug, Keytruda, a checkpoint inhibitor that helps the immune system fight cancer, is being used in combination with the mRNA vaccine. While previous attempts at personalized cancer vaccines failed, the combination of mRNA technology, which can target dozens of mutations, and Keytruda's ability to activate T-cells, has provided a more robust approach. The companies are sharing costs and profits from this venture.
Wall Street analysts anticipate billions of dollars in sales for the vaccine, with US approval potentially coming next year. Moderna's shares have surged following the announcement, and the company sees this as a crucial development amid declining demand for its COVID-19 shots. Merck faces the patent expiration of Keytruda later this decade, making this new vaccine a significant prospect. The next steps involve analyzing the melanoma data for improvements and testing the approach on cancers with fewer mutations, such as lung, kidney, and pancreatic cancers.