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Personalized mRNA cancer vaccine shows major success in late-stage trial
🇷🇸 Serbia /Health & Science

Personalized mRNA cancer vaccine shows major success in late-stage trial

From N1 Serbia · () Serbian

Translated from Serbian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Ongoing story
  • A personalized mRNA cancer vaccine combined with immunotherapy has shown promising results in a Phase 3 trial for melanoma patients.
  • The combination therapy significantly reduced the risk of melanoma recurrence and spread compared to immunotherapy alone.
  • This marks a significant step for mRNA-based cancer therapies, with companies planning to seek regulatory approval.

A personalized mRNA vaccine, developed by Merck and Moderna, has demonstrated a significant reduction in melanoma recurrence among patients who had their tumors surgically removed. In combination with the existing immunotherapy Keytruda, the experimental vaccine achieved its primary and key secondary goals in a Phase 3 clinical trial, marking a potential breakthrough in cancer treatment.

The combination achieved both the main and key secondary goal: it significantly extended the time patients spent without the disease returning and reduced the risk of cancer spreading to distant parts of the body.

— Company statementDescribing the positive outcomes of the Phase 3 trial.

The trial involved 1,137 patients with Stage IIB to IV melanoma. Those who received the mRNA vaccine alongside Keytruda experienced a significantly longer period without disease recurrence and a reduced risk of cancer spreading to distant parts of the body, compared to patients receiving only Keytruda. This represents the first positive Phase 3 outcome for any mRNA cancer therapy.

The vaccine is highly personalized, with each dose tailored to the unique mutations of a patient's tumor. The process begins with analyzing a tumor sample to identify specific mutations, then creating an mRNA preparation that highlights these markers to the immune system. The goal is for the immune system to recognize and eliminate any remaining cancer cells.

Each tumor has its own set of mutations, which differ from patient to patient.

— Article explanationExplaining the personalized nature of the mRNA vaccine.

While the companies have not yet released detailed data from the Phase 3 trial, they stated the results are statistically significant and clinically meaningful. Further data will be presented at upcoming medical conferences. The trial is ongoing, and this analysis is interim. No new safety concerns have emerged, with side effects aligning with those seen in earlier phases, primarily immune system-related reactions like fatigue and injection site pain.

The goal is for the immune system to recognize the remaining cancer cells as foreign and destroy them itself.

— Article explanationDetailing the mechanism of the personalized mRNA cancer vaccine.

Merck and Moderna plan to discuss regulatory submission with health authorities. Simultaneously, eight other Phase 2 and 3 trials are underway for various cancers, including lung, bladder, and kidney cancer. If these results are confirmed, this approach could extend beyond melanoma treatment, potentially transforming cancer care.

The announcement caused a strong reaction on the stock market.

Noting the financial impact of the trial results.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by N1 Serbia in Serbian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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