A personalized mRNA cancer therapy called intismeran autogene, combined with the immunotherapy drug KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab), reduced the risk of melanoma recurrence or death by 49% over approximately five years of follow-up. The collaboration between Merck and Moderna was presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting in Chicago on May 27.
The phase 2b KEYNOTE-942 study analyzed data from 157 patients with high-risk stage 3 and 4 melanoma whose cancer had been surgically removed. Participants were divided into two groups—one receiving combination therapy and the other receiving pembrolizumab alone. The combination group achieved benefits that researchers described as “sustained and durable over time.”
Intismeran autogene is designed using mutations identified in a patient’s own tumor, with the intention of teaching the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. According to researchers, intismeran proved “well-tolerated” with a “manageable” safety profile. The most commonly reported side effects when combined with KEYTRUDA were fatigue, injection-site pain, chills, fever, and headache. Researchers reported no new long-term safety concerns and no severe vaccine-related adverse events.
Kyle Holen, MD, Moderna’s senior vice president for oncology development, noted that the data highlights “the potential of a prolonged benefit in patients with resected high-risk melanoma.” Dr. Marjorie Green, Merck’s senior vice president for oncology global clinical development, emphasized that for many patients with stage 3 or 4 melanoma there is “a significant risk of recurrence following surgery.” The combination therapy is currently undergoing evaluation in a phase 3 study, which is the final confirmation stage before potential regulatory approval.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://newspub.live/health/could-cancer-vaccines-be-next-new-treatment-cuts-melanoma-risk-by-nearly-50/