Scientists Have Worked on Mrna Vaccines Against Cancer for Years, But Until Now None Had Successfully Passed Phase 3 Trials

The vaccine, which uses the same mRNA technology as Covid-19 shots, also prevented the cancer from spreading to other organs when combined with the immunotherapy drug Keytruda, which contains a compound called pembrolizumab, and standard patient care. Scientists have worked on mRNA vaccines against cancer for years, but until now none had successfully passed phase 3 trials. The success boosted the companies' shares, with Moderna rising 128% and Merck gaining more than 10%.

The phase 3 trials were conducted over about a year on 1,137 people whose tumors had been surgically removed. Two-thirds of participants received the new vaccine, called intismeran autogene, together with pembrolizumab, while one-third received only pembrolizumab. The companies said they would publish the trial data at an international conference and then seek regulatory approval. According to the news agency, the study's lead investigator and Medical Director of the Melanoma Institute Australia, Professor Georgina Long, said: These results are a turning point in the fight against melanoma.