Moderna Inc. and Merck & Co. announced that their personalized mRNA cancer vaccine, when combined with Merck's immunotherapy drug Keytruda, successfully reduced the recurrence of melanoma in a large, late-stage trial. The trial met its primary objective by showing that the vaccine-Keytruda combination prevented cancer return more effectively than Keytruda alone. It also demonstrated success in slowing the spread of the disease to new areas of the body, according to statements from the companies.
The positive results sparked significant investor enthusiasm. Moderna's shares experienced a record surge, spiking by as much as 177% on Wednesday. Merck's stock also saw a notable increase, rising 12%. Analysts are optimistic, with Barclays estimating that this therapy could generate approximately $3 billion in melanoma sales by 2035.
This marks a pivotal moment for mRNA technology beyond infectious diseases, offering new promise in the field of cancer treatment. The vaccine, referred to as an individualized antigen therapy, is designed to detect up to 34 neoantigens on a patient's tumor cells, making it tailored to each individual's disease profile. The companies plan to release more detailed data at an upcoming medical meeting. If approved by regulators, thousands of patients with high-risk melanoma who have undergone surgical removal of tumors could benefit as early as next year.
