'Breakthrough' mRNA cancer drug curbs melanoma in large trial

'Breakthrough' mRNA cancer drug curbs melanoma in sizeable trial Researchers have for years been trying to apply mRNA treatments against cancer, but this was the first time such a drug demonstrated positive results in a sizeable, late-stage clinical trial.

Key points

• The news sent shares in Moderna soaring 145% to $154 while Merck's stock was up more than 12% to $152.
• Melanoma is one of the deadliest forms of skin cancer, with more than 330, 000 new cases diagnosed worldwide in 2022.
• "Today marks an extraordinary milestone for Moderna, for mRNA science and, most importantly, for patients with cancer, " Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel remarked in an official note.
• This marks the first time an mRNA-based cancer therapy has definitively proven successful in a large-scale, randomised trial Image applied for representational purpose only Photo Credit: AFP.
• The drug, called "intismeran autogene, " is based on the same messenger RNA (mRNA) technology behind Covid-19 vaccines.

U.S. Drugmakers Merck and Moderna remarked Wednesday a personalized cancer treatment had shown success in reducing the recurrence of melanoma tumors in a late-stage trial hailed by experts as a "breakthrough."

For context, the news sent shares in Moderna soaring 145% to $154 while Merck's stock was up more than 12% to $152.

For context, the drug, called "intismeran autogene, " is based on the same messenger RNA (mRNA) technology behind Covid-19 vaccines.

Researchers have for years been trying to apply mRNA treatments against cancer, but this was the first time such a drug indicated positive results in a substantial, late-stage clinical trial.

After surgical removal of their cancers, were randomized into groups, with two-thirds receiving the new treatment plus pembrolizumab — the current standard-of-care drug — while the rest received pembrolizumab alone, the trial lasted approximately a year and involved 1, 137 patients who.

In practice, the firms stated they would present their data at an upcoming international conference and commence filings with regulators for approval.

Lennard Lee, an oncologist and assistant professor at the University of Oxford who was not involved in the trial, called the results "very encouraging, " adding: "We should now look forward to seeing the complete data."

Oncologist Marco Gerlinger, a professor at London's Barts Cancer Institute, continued that beyond being good news for patients with melanoma, it was "proof of principle that personalised cancer vaccines work."

While additionally noting the press release was short on details, "I think it is fair to call it a breakthrough in the development of new cancer immunotherapies, " he continued.

Notably, the treatment works by taking a sample of the patient's tumor and identifying its unique mutational signature, or "fingerprint, " then using mRNA technology to fight it.

Messenger RNA technology uses synthetic molecular instructions encased in tiny fat bubbles that temporarily enter cells, causing them to produce targets that train the body's immune system.

When Moderna and Pfizer developed vaccines that were highly effective against serious forms of the illness, the technology was first conceived decades ago but came to the fore during the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Together with Merck, we are now studying intismeran in combination with pembrolizumab and other anti-cancer therapies, and as a monotherapy, across multiple tumor types and stages of disease, including melanoma, lung, bladder and kidney cancers, " remarked Bancel.

In short, ' Breakthrough' mRNA cancer drug curbs melanoma in large trial is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.