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Intismeran With Keytruda Cuts Melanoma Recurrence in Phase 3

8/19/2026

Summary

Moderna Merck Cuts

Moderna and Merck said their mRNA vaccine Intismeran with Keytruda cut melanoma recurrence in a Phase 3 trial.
The trial enrolled 1,137 stage IIB-IV melanoma patients and met the primary endpoint of recurrence-free survival.
No new safety signals were observed, and the safety profile matched earlier studies.
Moderna shares jumped up to 150% and Merck shares rose over 10% pre-market, while Barclays forecasts about $3 billion in annual melanoma sales by 2035.

Summary

Merck Presents

The trial is the first randomized Phase 3 study of the neoantigen-based vaccine intismeran.
Researchers sequence each tumor, select neoantigens, produce a personalized mRNA dose in about six weeks, and add it to Keytruda after surgery.
Dr. Elias Sayour and Dr. Catherine Wu say the results could extend personalized mRNA vaccines to lung and pancreatic cancers.
Merck and Moderna will present data at an upcoming international meeting and seek regulatory approval.

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Moderna Merck Cuts

Moderna and Merck said their mRNA vaccine Intismeran with Keytruda cut melanoma recurrence in a Phase 3 trial.
The trial enrolled 1,137 stage IIB-IV melanoma patients and met the primary endpoint of recurrence-free survival.
No new safety signals were observed, and the safety profile matched earlier studies.
Moderna shares jumped up to 150% and Merck shares rose over 10% pre-market, while Barclays forecasts about $3 billion in annual melanoma sales by 2035.

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