Receiving a personalized mRNA-based cancer vaccine alongside immunotherapy lowered the risk of recurrence or death by 42% versus immunotherapy alone in a phase 3 clinical trial of patients with surgically resected stage 2B to 4 melanoma.
The vaccine, called intismeran autogene and jointly developed by Merck and Moderna, was tested in combination with Merck’s immunotherapy Keytruda after surgery as part of the phase 3 INTerpath-001 trial, according to an Oct. 22 news release from the companies.
The trial results were leaked online Oct. 22, The Wall Street Journal reported, two days before Merck and Moderna were expected to present the latest trial data Oct. 24 at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress 2026 in Madrid.
Here are three notes on the trial results:
- In addition to lowering the risk of recurrence or death by 42%, intismeran plus Keytruda lowered the risk of distant metastasis or death by 38% compared with Keytruda alone.
- Results were similar to those for Keytruda alone during the first six months while patients completed the vaccine regimen. After six months, a sensitivity analysis showed a 58% lower risk of recurrence or death and a 50% lower risk of distant metastasis or death versus Keytruda alone.
- Results were generally consistent across patient subgroups, and no new safety signals emerged.
Read the latest trial results from Merck and Moderna here.
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