MODERNA’S MRNA CANCER VACCINE WORKS EVEN BETTER THAN THOUGHT

Summary from the TLDR newsletter

Moderna and Merck are developing an mRNA-based cancer vaccine for people who have had high-risk melanomas removed. It works by instructing the body to make proteins found only on cancer cells to prepare the immune system to quickly identify and attack any new cancer cells bearing them, preventing recurrence. An ongoing phase 2b study found that people who received treatment with the therapy along with an FDA-approved cancer treatment were 49% less likely to experience recurrence or death a median of three years after treatment compared to people who only received the FDA-approved cancer treatment. The vaccine could be launched under accelerated approval in some countries by 2025.