Biotech
Monday, June 3rd, 2024 3:31 pm EDT
Key Points
- Moderna and Merck presented three-year data at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting demonstrating the efficacy of their experimental vaccine in combination with Keytruda therapy for advanced melanoma.
- The combination treatment significantly improved survival rates, with nearly 75% of patients remaining alive without signs of cancer recurrence at the 2½-year mark compared to 55.6% of patients receiving Keytruda alone.
- The vaccine, utilizing mRNA technology similar to Moderna’s Covid vaccine, showed potential to treat a broad range of melanoma patients and received breakthrough therapy designation from the FDA, aiming to expedite its availability for melanoma treatment.
Moderna and Merck have presented promising data at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting regarding their experimental vaccine, administered alongside Merck’s Keytruda therapy, to patients with advanced melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer. The three-year data reflects substantial improvements in survival rates and long-term efficacy compared to patients receiving Keytruda alone. Notably, nearly 75% of patients who received the combination remained alive without signs of cancer recurrence at the 2½-year mark, a significant increase from those who solely received Keytruda. This positive outcome was consistent across various patient subgroups, indicating the potential for broad application in melanoma treatment. The vaccine, utilizing mRNA technology akin to Moderna’s Covid vaccine, is tailored to individual patients based on tumor analysis post-surgery, training the immune system to target specific cancer mutations. Side effects were mostly mild, with fatigue, injection site pain, and chills being common, albeit slightly elevated in patients receiving the combination. With FDA breakthrough therapy designation granted to the vaccine and plans for accelerated approval, Moderna aims to expedite the availability of this treatment for melanoma patients, addressing an unmet medical need in the face of increasing melanoma diagnoses and deaths. Ongoing trials explore the vaccine’s potential in treating other cancers like lung, skin, kidney, and bladder cancers, underscoring its versatility and promise in advancing cancer immunotherapy.
For the full original article on CNBC, please click here: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/06/03/moderna-merck-cancer-vaccine-with-keytruda-improved-survival-in-trial.html
