The personalized cancer vaccine reduces the risk of death by more than 40%

Moderna and Merck reported that their personalized mRNA cancer vaccine reduced melanoma death risk by 42% in a phase III trial with over 1,100 patients. The study showed significant results, with 82.2% of patients receiving the vaccine remaining cancer-free after two years, compared to 70% for those on standard treatment. Despite initial excitement, stock prices for both companies fell after results were leaked, as they were lower than previous phase II trial outcomes. The vaccine, known as intismeran, is tailored to individual tumors and combined with Merck's Keytruda immunotherapy to enhance immune response against cancer.