This is the first demonstration of efficacy for an investigational mRNA cancer treatment in a randomized clinical trial.
The company uses genetic information from a patients tumor tocreate a customized vaccine that targets their cancer cells.
Theres power in people and theres power in their immune systems.
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What Is Melanoma?
Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer.
Moderna and other companies have been investigating the potential for a cancer vaccine using mRNA technology for years.
Thats where the vaccines come in.
For COVID, its the same virus across much of the population.
Before the trial, all of the patients in the Moderna study had surgery to remove their tumors.
The team combined up to 34 antigens for each patient into a single mRNA vaccine.
One group was given Keytruda alone for 18 treatment cycles, or about a year.
The other group received Keytruda and nine total doses of the cancer vaccine called mRNA-4157.
The combination treatment reduced the risk of recurrence or death by 44%.
Compared to other treatment options, like chemotherapy, the vaccine side effects were relatively benign.
The Moderna data is still in early days, but the results are promising so far, Huang said.
These results are an indication that the treatment actually benefits patients.
In that state, nearly every advantage is on the tumors side.
Weve always wanted to do personalized medicine, precision medicine.
And I think this is a beautiful example of the potential of it, Huang said.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Cancer statistics at a glance.
