Promising Results for Personalized Experimental Vaccine Against Skin Cancer

In depth

A Phase 3 trial by Moderna and Merck of about 1,100 patients tested a combination of a personalized experimental vaccine with the drug Keytruda. According to Bizportal and Ynet, the combination reduced the risk of melanoma recurrence or death by 42%. According to Ynet, side effects were relatively mild.

According to Haaretz, this is the first vaccine for skin cancer to show promising results, and the vaccine reduced the risk within two years. According to Haaretz, the results raise hope for developing vaccines against pancreatic and brain cancer as well.

According to Bizportal, Moderna's stock, which had jumped 6.5 times since the start of the year, lost up to 26% during trading. According to Ynet, the companies are preparing to submit an application for approval in the US.