Merck, Moderna Post 42% Melanoma Risk Cut in Phase 3, Eye 2027 Vaccine Launch
Updated
Updated · Reuters · Oct 22
Merck, Moderna Post 42% Melanoma Risk Cut in Phase 3, Eye 2027 Vaccine Launch
3 articles · Updated · Reuters · Oct 22
Summary
More than 1,100 melanoma patients in the Phase 3 trial saw a 42% lower risk of death or recurrence when Moderna's personalized mRNA vaccine was added to Merck's Keytruda.
Two-year data also showed a 38% reduction in cancer spread, with 82.2% of combination-treated patients still cancer-free versus 70% on Keytruda alone.
The readout is the first late-stage evidence that a personalized cancer vaccine improves outcomes when paired with a checkpoint inhibitor; the companies are preparing a U.S. filing and expect a 2027 launch.
Moderna shares fell more than 17% and Merck slipped 1.8% after the detailed data leaked, as some analysts questioned how well the approach will translate beyond melanoma.
The vaccine-Keytruda regimen is already being tested in kidney, bladder and lung cancers, with full melanoma results due Saturday at the ESMO meeting in Madrid.