mRNA Vaccine Shows Promise in Preventing Melanoma From Returning

Moderna and Merck announced encouraging results for a new melanoma vaccine, an mRNA-based treatment tested in a large clinical trial. In a trial of over 1,100 people with high-risk melanoma who had surgery to remove their cancer, those who received a personalized mRNA vaccine (called intismeran) alongside the immunotherapy drug Keytruda were less likely to see their cancer return or spread than those who received Keytruda alone. Cancer vaccines have long been considered one of the most exciting frontiers in cancer treatment, and this personalized approach — tailored to the genetic profile of each patient’s tumor — could mark a major step forward for melanoma patients. We’ll be watching closely as more details are shared with regulators and the medical community. Read the full story at The New York Times.