Moderna-Merck personalized vaccine cuts melanoma recurrence or death risk by 42% in Phase 3 trial
publishers 16articles 20first reported 21 Oct, 15:00 UTCdeveloping since 21 Oct · 9 editions
Moderna and Merck said their experimental personalized cancer vaccine reduced the risk of melanoma recurrence or death by 42% when combined with Merck’s immunotherapy Keytruda, compared with Keytruda alone, in a late-stage trial.
The Phase 3 study involved roughly 1,100 patients whose tumors had been surgically removed. Over two years of follow-up, the combination also reduced the risk of the cancer spreading to distant parts of the body or death by 38%, according to results released by the companies Thursday. Detailed findings were released earlier than planned after partial confidential data appeared on social media.
The vaccine, known as intismeran autogene, is customized using mutations identified in each patient’s tumor. It uses messenger RNA technology to train the immune system to recognize and attack residual cancer cells, while Keytruda helps the immune system detect and target cancer.
Six melanoma specialists interviewed by CNBC described the results as clinically meaningful for patients who had surgery and did not receive immunotherapy beforehand. Trial investigator Dr. Janice Mehnert said it was the first time an added treatment had been shown to boost immunotherapy’s effectiveness in this setting.
Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel said the company was completing a regulatory filing and aims to secure full approval next year. Researchers are also studying personalized vaccine approaches in other cancers, including lung, kidney and pancreatic cancers.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 2 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 60 h after the record first saw the story; the editor revised it.
- Publishers
- 16
- Source articles
- 20
- Given to the writer
- 8, 2 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 60 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- revised
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and changed it before publication. Struck words were in the draft; underlined words are its corrections.
WHAT IT FLAGGED editor revise: Replace the unsupported publication wording and avoid attributing the other cancer studies specifically to Moderna and Merck. - "Detailed findings were published earlier than planned": The sources say the companies released or posted the detailed results early, not that the findings were published. - "The companies are also studying personalized vaccine approaches in other cancers": The supplied source says researchers are testing these approaches in other cancers, but does not specifically attribute those studies to Moderna and Merck.
THE DRAFT AND THE CHANGES
Moderna-Merck personalized vaccine cuts melanoma recurrence or death risk by 42% in Phase 3 trial
Moderna and Merck said their experimental personalized cancer vaccine reduced the risk of melanoma recurrence or death by 42% when combined with Merck’s immunotherapy Keytruda, compared with Keytruda alone, in a late-stage trial.
The Phase 3 study involved roughly 1,100 patients whose tumors had been surgically removed. Over two years of follow-up, the combination also reduced the risk of the cancer spreading to distant parts of the body or death by 38%, according to results released by the companies Thursday. Detailed findings were publishedreleased earlier than planned after partial confidential data appeared on social media.
The vaccine, known as intismeran autogene, is customized using mutations identified in each patient’s tumor. It uses messenger RNA technology to train the immune system to recognize and attack residual cancer cells, while Keytruda helps the immune system detect and target cancer.
Six melanoma specialists interviewed by CNBC described the results as clinically meaningful for patients who had surgery and did not receive immunotherapy beforehand. Trial investigator Dr. Janice Mehnert said it was the first time an added treatment had been shown to boost immunotherapy’s effectiveness in this setting.
Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel said the company was completing a regulatory filing and aims to secure full approval next year. The companiesResearchers are also studying personalized vaccine approaches in other cancers, including lung, kidney and pancreatic cancers.
Written by a language model from the sources above, then checked by a second model that may only cut, attribute or correct. How it works →