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Moderna and Merck mRNA melanoma vaccine shows positive Phase 3 results
Results from the Phase 3 INTerpath-001 clinical trial, presented at the 2026 ESMO Congress in Madrid, demonstrate that a personalized mRNA cancer vaccine significantly reduces the risk of melanoma recurrence or death.
Developed jointly by Moderna and Merck (MSD), the experimental therapy, known as intismeran autogene, is used as an adjuvant treatment for patients with high-risk, completely resected Stage IIB-IV melanoma. The vaccine is custom-designed for each patient by sequencing their tumor DNA to identify up to 34 specific neoantigens, which are then delivered via mRNA technology to train the immune system to target remaining cancer cells.
In the study involving 1,137 patients, the combination of intismeran and pembrolizumab (Keytruda) achieved an 82.2% recurrence-free rate after two years, compared to 70.0% for the group receiving pembrolizumab alone. The combination therapy reduced the risk of recurrence or death by 42% and the risk of distant metastasis or death by 38%.
Notably, for patients who remained cancer-free for six months, the addition of the vaccine reduced the risk of recurrence or death by 58% compared to immunotherapy alone. Despite these medical advancements, Moderna shares experienced volatility following the data release, as market reactions reflected investor expectations regarding the magnitude of the results.
Entities
Antonio Ferro · Asuit · European Society for Medical Oncology · Genoa · Georgina Long · HUYABIO International · INTerpath-001 · Intismeran · Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia · Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori · MD Anderson Cancer Center · MSD
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 25 SOURCES] The INTerpath-001 study included 1,137 patients with high-risk melanoma. www.kapitalmarktexperten.de · batmanrehbergazetesi.com · www.malatyaguncel.com · novini247.com · dariknews.bg · +20 more
- [● 2 SOURCES] Moderna shares fell by up to 25% to $181 following the release of detailed study data. www.nachrichten.at · www.kapitalmarktexperten.de
- [● 10 SOURCES] The combination therapy resulted in an 82.2% recurrence-free rate after two years. www.kapitalmarktexperten.de · batmanrehbergazetesi.com · www.malatyaguncel.com · novini247.com · dariknews.bg · +5 more
- [● 10 SOURCES] The Keytruda-only group had a 70.0% recurrence-free rate. www.kapitalmarktexperten.de · batmanrehbergazetesi.com · www.malatyaguncel.com · novini247.com · dariknews.bg · +5 more
- [● 20 SOURCES] The risk of cancer spread decreased by 38% according to the dataset. www.nachrichten.at · www.ilsannioquotidiano.it · www.forchecaudine.com · notiziedi.it · www.technoblitz.it · +15 more
- [● 27 SOURCES] The Intismeran vaccine reduces the risk of melanoma recurrence or death by 42% when used with Keytruda. www.kapitalmarktexperten.de · novini247.com · dariknews.bg · www.nachrichten.at · batmanrehbergazetesi.com · +22 more
- [● 24 SOURCES] The vaccine is developed using mRNA technology. batmanrehbergazetesi.com · www.ilsannioquotidiano.it · www.forchecaudine.com · www.kapitalmarktexperten.de · notiziedi.it · +19 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] The combination therapy reduced the risk of recurrence or death by 58% in patients who were cancer-free for six months. www.ilsannioquotidiano.it · www.forchecaudine.com · notiziedi.it · www.technoblitz.it · www.cinquecolonne.it · +4 more