Moderna, Merck melanoma vaccine clears Phase 3 trial goal
What's next: The companies plan talks with regulators within months as they pursue approval for the personalized shot with Keytruda.
Moderna and Merck reported positive initial Phase 3 results for an experimental personalized melanoma vaccine used with Keytruda, a step that could move the treatment toward US approval. In a trial of more than 1,100 patients with higher-risk or advanced melanoma whose detectable cancer had been removed by surgery, the regimen significantly lengthened the time patients lived without the disease returning compared with Keytruda alone. The combination also cut the risk of the cancer spreading to distant parts of the body. The study will keep tracking other outcomes, including overall survival, and the companies said they expect to present the data at an international medical meeting. Merck shares rose more than 10% and Moderna jumped more than 120% in morning trading.