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Moderna Initiates Phase 3 Trials for Cancer Vaccine
Moderna has announced the initiation of phase 3 trials for the use of its cancer vaccine in combination with Keytruda, a cancer drug, for patients with melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer. The company’s stock surged by 4% following positive data from an early-phase clinical trial.
Positive Data from Early-Phase Clinical Trial
The study, presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s annual meeting in Chicago, included 157 patients with late-stage melanoma. Two-thirds of the patients received Moderna’s experimental vaccine mRNA-4157 (V940) along with Keytruda, while the remaining third received Keytruda alone.
After three years, patients on the combined treatment showed a 49% lower risk of cancer recurrence or death compared to those treated with Keytruda alone. The risk of cancer spreading was 62% lower in the combined treatment group. Additionally, 75% of patients on the combined treatment were alive two and a half years after starting the therapy, in contrast to 56% of those who received only Keytruda.
Potential Transformative Cancer Therapy
Moderna’s Senior Vice President expressed enthusiasm about the results, emphasizing the company’s dedication to advancing innovative treatments in collaboration with Merck. The cancer vaccine utilizes mRNA technology, similar to the technology behind Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine.
The personalized cancer vaccine is designed to target the unique genetic signature of each patient’s tumor. By analyzing the genetic mutations in the tumor, researchers can create a tailored treatment that instructs the immune system on how to combat the specific cancer cells.
Moderna has already initiated a phase 3 trial to further evaluate the combined treatment in patients with high-risk melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer.
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