NewsFOX 13 Tampa BayAugust 19, 2026Hillsborough County
Moderna and Merck report successful late-stage trial for personalized mRNA melanoma vaccine
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Moderna announced that its personalized mRNA cancer vaccine, when used alongside the immunotherapy drug Keytruda, reduced the risk of melanoma recurrence or spread in a late-stage clinical trial. The companies are now preparing for potential regulatory approval, with the vaccine potentially available to high-risk patients as early as next year.
Read the full story at FOX 13 Tampa BayWhy It Matters
This development represents the first successful for an cancer vaccine, potentially offering a new treatment option for thousands of patients with high-risk melanoma.
Key Facts
- The mRNA vaccine is designed to train the immune system to recognize and attack specific mutations in cancer cells.
- The trial results showed a reduction in the risk of melanoma returning or spreading when the vaccine was combined with Keytruda.
- Moderna's market value increased by nearly $40 billion following the announcement.
- Merck's share price rose 11% following the trial results.
- The Nasdaq Biotechnology Index reached a record high, rising 4.4%.
- The vaccine is personalized for each patient, which may present challenges for large-scale production.
- Moderna and Merck have not yet determined the cost of the treatment.
- More than 1.5 million people in the U.S. were living with melanoma in 2023.
- Similar mRNA vaccine studies are currently underway for lung, breast, and pancreatic cancers.