An experimental personalized mRNA vaccine called intismeran autogene reduced the risk of melanoma returning or causing death by 42% when combined with Keytruda (immunotherapy medication), according to late-stage clinical trial results.
On October 22, developers Moderna and Merck released detailed findings from a study involving 1,137 patients whose tumors had been surgically removed. “This new vaccine is something that we’ve never really seen before in terms of the efficacy that it has demonstrated and the way that it works,” Dr. Michael Postow, chief of the melanoma service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, told CNN.
Unlike preventive vaccines, intismeran autogene is designed for people who have already had melanoma removed. Doctors analyze a sample of each patient’s tumor to identify genetic mutations that produce distinctive markers, known as neoantigens.
The vaccine uses mRNA technology to help the immune system recognize those markers and target cancer cells. It is administered alongside Keytruda, which helps immune cells attack cancer by blocking a protein tumors use to evade the body’s defenses. The vaccine remains experimental, and the trial is continuing to assess longer-term outcomes, including overall survival.
Indeed, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer, and melanoma can be particularly dangerous when it spreads. While new treatments offer hope, prevention and early detection remain essential. Click through this gallery to learn more about skin cancer, from warning signs to prevention.