Moderna and Merck stocks surged after the pharmaceutical companies announced positive preliminary Phase 3 trial results for a new melanoma vaccine that reduced disease recurrence and delayed cancer metastasis.
Following the announcement, shares in American biotechnology laboratory Moderna jumped by 136.64 percent to $148.99, up from $62.96 at the previous close. German pharmaceutical company Merck saw a more moderate rise of 11.69 percent on the US stock market, with its shares reaching $150.96 after closing at $135.17 in the prior session.
The experimental treatment combines Moderna's individualized messenger RNA therapy with Keytruda, an established immunotherapy drug already marketed by Merck. The companies confirmed that the trial delivered the first positive Phase 3 results for an individualized neoantigen therapy and for an mRNA-based oncology treatment.
Clinical trial results and findings
Data from the clinical trial demonstrated statistically significant and clinically relevant improvements in both recurrence-free survival and distant metastasis-free survival among patients with melanoma. Recurrence-free survival measures the length of time patients remain free of cancer after treatment, while distant metastasis-free survival measures the time before cancer spreads to distant organs.
The combination therapy targets skin cancer by training the patient's immune system to attack specific proteins found on tumor cells. The treatment is administered as an adjuvant therapy following surgical removal of the tumor.
Moderna Chief Executive Officer Stéphane Bancel said the Phase 3 results represented a pivotal moment for cancer research. He stated that for many years the concept of creating an mRNA treatment tailored specifically to an individual patient's cancer was an aspiration, but the companies were now helping to turn that vision into reality.
Medical impact and future steps
Dean Y. Li, president of Merck Research Laboratories, explained that intervening at an early stage of the disease when cancers are considered more treatable aims to increase the likelihood of a cure. He noted that administering adjuvant therapy after surgery helps maximize treatment success across a broader group of patients.
The detailed findings from the trial will be presented at an upcoming international medical conference. The pharmaceutical companies also confirmed that the data will be submitted to health regulatory authorities for evaluation.
Understanding melanoma and mRNA cancer therapies
Melanoma is a serious form of skin cancer that originates in melanocytes, the cells responsible for producing skin pigment. While less common than other skin cancers, melanoma is considered far more dangerous because of its potential to spread rapidly to other organs if not diagnosed early.
Messenger RNA technology instructs host cells to produce specific proteins that provoke a targeted immune response. While mRNA became widely recognized during the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers have long explored its potential to direct the human immune system against cancer tumors.
Keytruda is an established immunotherapy drug that works by unmasking cancer cells so that the body's immune system can detect and destroy them. Combining custom mRNA sequences with Keytruda allows the treatment to deliver a personalized approach to preventing melanoma recurrence.
