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Moderna Stock Surges as Melanoma Vaccine Trial Shows 'Landmark Moment'

From CBS News · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Moderna's stock price surged over 145% after announcing positive results from a melanoma vaccine trial.
  • The experimental mRNA vaccine, developed with Merck, showed promise in preventing melanoma recurrence or spread in high-risk patients.
  • Experts hailed the results as a "landmark moment" and a potential "new treatment paradigm" for adjuvant melanoma therapy.

Drugmaker Moderna experienced a dramatic surge in its stock value, more than doubling in morning trading Wednesday, following the announcement of highly successful results from an experimental mRNA vaccine trial for melanoma. The vaccine, developed in partnership with Merck, targets the deadly skin cancer from which thousands are expected to die this year.

Today's results represent a landmark moment for adjuvant melanoma treatment.

— Professor Georgina LongPrincipal investigator and chair of University of Sydney's Melanoma Medical Oncology and Translational Research, commenting on the study's significance.

The joint study focused on patients who had undergone surgery to remove melanoma. The experimental treatment, Moderna's personalized cancer vaccine intismeran, was used in combination with Merck's immunotherapy drug Keytruda. Data presented indicates that this combination therapy significantly reduced the risk of the cancer returning or spreading to other organs, keeping patients cancer-free for longer periods.

The advancement has the potential to establish a new treatment paradigm in the adjuvant melanoma setting, helping patients remain cancer-free for longer.

— Professor Georgina LongDescribing the potential impact of the new treatment on patient outcomes.

This development is being hailed as a "landmark moment" by researchers. Professor Georgina Long, the study's principal investigator, stated that the results represent a significant advancement in adjuvant melanoma treatment. She believes the therapy has the potential to establish a new treatment paradigm, offering patients a better chance of remaining cancer-free. Dr. Dean Y. Li, president of Merck Research Laboratories, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the goal of adjuvant therapy to increase the possibility of cure by intervening earlier in the disease course.

By intervening earlier in the course of disease, when many cancers are considered most treatable, the goal of adjuvant therapy given after surgery is to increase the possibility of cure for more patients.

— Dr. Dean Y. LiPresident of Merck Research Laboratories, explaining the purpose of adjuvant therapy.

Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel described the findings as a "pivotal moment for the field of cancer research." He highlighted the long-held aspiration of creating personalized mRNA treatments for individual cancers, a vision that is now becoming a reality. Despite the significant stock increase, Moderna shares remain below their peak levels reached in late 2021.

The findings amount to a pivotal moment for the field of cancer research.

— Stéphane BancelModerna CEO, commenting on the importance of the study's results.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by CBS News in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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