On April 16, 2023, Merck and Moderna announced the results from a trial using mRNA-4157, Moderna’s melanoma vaccine, with Merck’s immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab. The patients in the trial had a diagnosis of resected high-risk stage III/IV melanoma and were also at a high risk for recurrence.
Trial participants receiving the mRNA-4157 vaccine along with pembrolizumab had a 44% reduction of recurrence compared to patients just receiving the single agent pembrolizumab. Each vaccine dose is specifically made for each patient by taking samples of their tumor and healthy tissues.
The FDA has granted breakthrough therapy designation for mRNA-4157 and Pembrolizumab combination for melanoma. The manufacturers, Merck and Moderna, will be conducting a late-stage study in 2023. If the long-term results of treatment are effective, this may provide a gateway to treatments for other cancers in the future.
It is interesting to note that the mRNA technology that was used to create COVID-19 vaccines was also used to help produce this vaccine. Decades before COVID-19, researchers were already looking at ways to use mRNA technology for cancer treatments.
Article by Stacy Schumacher, RN, BSN, Managed Care Specialist. For more information about how this may affect your plan, please contact your Summit ReSources care specialist. The following sources were used as reference material for this article: