mRNA Cancer Vaccine Shows 5-Year Protection, Moderna-Merck Data Reveals
▼ Summary
– A personalized mRNA vaccine combined with standard immunotherapy reduced the risk of melanoma recurrence and death by nearly 50% over five years in a Phase 2 trial.
– The vaccine, called mRNA-4157, is customized for each patient to target up to 34 unique markers from their specific cancer cells.
– All trial participants received the immunotherapy drug Keytruda, with two-thirds also receiving the experimental mRNA vaccine.
– Keytruda works by blocking a receptor on immune cells, preventing cancer cells from deactivating them and allowing the cells to attack the cancer.
– The detailed results are pending presentation, and a Phase 3 trial of the vaccine is already underway.
A new study reveals that personalized mRNA vaccines for aggressive skin cancer may offer lasting protection, significantly lowering the risk of the disease returning. According to recent data from Moderna and Merck, their jointly developed experimental vaccine, combined with standard immunotherapy, cut the risk of cancer recurrence or death by nearly half over a five-year period compared to immunotherapy alone. This promising finding builds upon earlier results and suggests a durable benefit for patients facing high-risk melanoma.
The clinical trial focused on 157 individuals diagnosed with stage 3 or stage 4 melanoma who had undergone surgery but remained at high risk for the cancer’s return. All participants received the immunotherapy drug Keytruda, a standard treatment that helps the body’s own T cells recognize and destroy cancer cells. However, researchers split the group, with about two-thirds also receiving a customized mRNA vaccine uniquely designed for their specific tumor.
These personalized vaccines are engineered using genetic material from a patient’s own cancer cells. They carry instructions for up to 34 distinct markers, or neoantigens, found on that individual’s mutated melanoma cells. Once administered, the vaccine prompts healthy cells to produce these protein markers, effectively training the immune system to hunt for and eliminate any remaining cancer cells that display them.
While the latest results were shared in a company press release, they are consistent with earlier data from the same Phase 2 trial, which showed similar reductions in recurrence at the two- and three-year marks. The complete dataset is slated for presentation at an upcoming medical conference. Meanwhile, a larger Phase 3 trial has already completed patient enrollment, moving this innovative approach closer to potential regulatory review and broader clinical use.
(Source: Ars Technica)
