Merck and Moderna to start pivotal cancer vaccine trial
Merck and Moderna will begin their Phase III cancer vaccine trial in August, according to a federal clinical trials database.
The closely watched trial could help the duo win the first personalized cancer vaccine approval, though that is far down the line. The shot is given alongside Merck’s Keytruda to skin cancer patients after surgery with the goal of stopping that cancer from returning.
In a Phase II study with 157 melanoma patients, the vaccine plus Keytruda reduced the risk of the cancer returning or death by 44% compared to Keytruda alone. And follow-up data presented at ASCO’s annual meeting last month showed the custom vaccine plus Keytruda reduced the risk of patients developing deadly metastases by 65% compared to Keytruda alone.
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