Moderna and Merck Report Personalized mRNA Vaccine Cut Melanoma Recurrence Risk 42% in Trial

Drugmakers Moderna and Merck released results Thursday from a major late-stage study showing that a personalized mRNA cancer vaccine, intismeran, significantly reduced the chance that melanoma tumors return. Added to a standard treatment, it cut the risk of recurrence by 42% two years after surgery. The companies said about 82% of patients given the vaccine plus Keytruda were alive without recurrence at two years, versus 70% on Keytruda alone. The vaccine is custom-made for each patient to match their tumor. Dr. Hussein Tawbi of MD Anderson Cancer Center, a trial investigator, called the results a big win. Detailed phase 3 data were to be presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology conference this weekend. Moderna shares fell as much as 25% Thursday after partial data leaked.

Left-leaning outlets tracked by Crosswire had not reported the story at the time of writing, while alternative/independent and right-leaning outlets had. Right-leaning outlets (New York Post, Washington Times) lead with the study result and the first-of-its-kind vaccine, citing Tawbi and outside experts. Alternative outlets agree on the core findings, but CNBC leads with the stock drop after the leak and adds the 38% reduction in spread of cancer and the milder side effects, while AP matches the right-leaning wording.