A personalised cancer vaccine has shown promising results in a Phase 3 clinical trial, helping to prevent melanoma from returning in patients at high risk of their cancer coming back.
The vaccine, called Intismeran, was developed by Moderna and Merck (known as MSD in Europe) and was given alongside the immunotherapy drug Keytruda to more than 1,000 patients with high-risk stage 2, 3 or 4 melanoma following surgery. Early results showed that the combination significantly increased the length of time patients remained cancer free compared with Keytruda alone.
Intismeran uses mRNA technology, also used in some COVID-19 vaccines, to create a treatment personalised to each patient’s cancer. Scientists analyse genetic mutations in a sample of the patient’s tumour and use this information to develop a vaccine designed to teach their immune system to recognise and attack remaining cancer cells.
Experts have described the findings as an important step forward for personalised cancer treatment, although the full Phase 3 results are yet to be released and independently reviewed. Researchers are also studying similar personalised vaccines in other cancers, including lung, bladder and kidney cancer.
Read more: Vaccine breakthrough stops cancer returning in trial – BBC News