Cancer treatment nears potential breakthrough with promising vaccine

An experimental mRNA vaccine customized to patients’ tumors effectively prevented skin cancer recurrence in a large-scale clinical trial, according to a Washington Post report citing Moderna and Merck. The drug, intismeran autogene, became the first personalized mRNA cancer treatment to clear a Phase 3 trial, potentially opening the door for FDA approval.

In the 1,137-patient trial, the drug combined with Keytruda prevented recurrence and metastasis in melanoma patients, meeting its primary endpoint. Moderna President Stephen Hoge called it a milestone a decade in the making. Experts say success could extend the approach to lung, kidney and bladder cancers.