A new mRNA melanoma vaccine developed by Merck and Moderna has demonstrated significant long-term benefits, reducing the risk of cancer recurrence or death by nearly 50% over five years.
A novel mRNA melanoma vaccine, known as intismeran autogene, has shown promising results in reducing melanoma risk over a five-year period. This personalized cancer therapy, developed through a collaboration between Merck and Moderna, was presented during the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago on May 27.
The findings stem from the phase 2b KEYNOTE-942 study, which reported that the combination of intismeran autogene and the immunotherapy drug KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) reduced the risk of cancer recurrence or death by 49% compared to patients who received pembrolizumab alone.
Researchers analyzed data from 157 patients diagnosed with high-risk stage 3 and 4 melanoma, all of whom had undergone surgical removal of their tumors. Participants were divided into two groups: one received the combination therapy, while the other was treated solely with pembrolizumab. The results indicated that the benefits of the combination therapy were “sustained and durable over time.”
Intismeran autogene is engineered using mutations identified in a patient’s own tumor, aiming to educate the immune system on how to recognize and attack the cancer cells effectively.
According to the researchers, the personalized mRNA vaccine combined with KEYTRUDA is “well-tolerated” and has a “manageable” safety profile. Common side effects reported included fatigue, injection-site pain, chills, fever, and headache. Notably, there were no new long-term safety concerns or severe vaccine-related adverse events reported.
The combination therapy is currently undergoing evaluation in a phase 3 study, which represents the final confirmation stage before potential approval.
In a press release from Merck in January, Dr. Kyle Holen, senior vice president and head of development for oncology and therapeutics at Moderna, emphasized the significance of the data, stating it highlights the “potential of a prolonged benefit … in patients with resected high-risk melanoma.” He added that the company continues to invest in its oncology platform due to encouraging outcomes that demonstrate mRNA’s potential in cancer care.
Dr. Marjorie Green, senior vice president and head of oncology global clinical development at Merck Research Laboratories, remarked on the importance of the findings, noting that many patients with stage 3 or 4 melanoma face a “significant risk of recurrence following surgery.” She described the demonstration of the longer-term potential of intismeran autogene and KEYTRUDA to reduce recurrence risk as a “meaningful milestone.”
The company has cited encouraging five-year follow-up data and is looking forward to results from the upcoming late-stage INTerpath trial, which will evaluate the combination therapy in several difficult-to-treat cancers.
As the field of cancer treatment continues to evolve, the promising results of the intismeran autogene vaccine may represent a significant step forward in the fight against melanoma and potentially other cancers, according to Fox News.