Prognosis
Moderna mRNA Melanoma Vaccine Succeeds in Combination With Merck Drug
- Treatments tested against melanoma in mid-stage trial
- Results raise hopes for mRNA’s second act after Covid shots
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A personalized Moderna Inc. cancer vaccine combined with collaborator Merck & Co.’s biggest-selling drug reduced melanoma deaths in a mid-stage trial, helping for now to ease concerns about the biotechnology company’s second act following the success of its Covid-19 vaccine.
The combination of the vaccine with Merck’s Keytruda cut the risk of death or recurrence of the lethal skin cancer by 44%, the companies said Tuesday in a statement. The drugmakers plan to move the combined treatment into final-stage studies next year. Moderna shares rose as much as 26% as of 1 p.m. in New York, while Merck’s gained as much as 2.1%.