Drugmakers Merck and Moderna announced favorable results in August from a late-stage clinical trial evaluating the addition of an mRNA cancer vaccine to immunotherapy treatment. The trial examined intismeran autogene, a vaccine developed jointly by the two companies, combined with the immunotherapy drug Keytruda. At the STAT Summit in Boston, one participant in the trial shared his personal experience with the treatment.
Gary Keblish, a public school teacher, received a high-risk melanoma diagnosis in 2019. After initial dermatological evaluations and surgical consultations, he was selected to participate in the clinical trial combining the mRNA vaccine with immunotherapy. Keblish described his medical journey as emotionally and physically demanding, involving various consultations with specialists including those at the Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone.
During treatment, Keblish experienced neuropathy issues that presented both physical and psychological challenges. He described how these side effects initially narrowed his emotional capacity and limited his physical activity. However, with the support of his medical team and family members, he navigated these complications. The neuropathy eventually resolved, allowing him to regain his previous level of functioning.
Six years after tumor removal, Keblish has returned to his position as a teacher in the classroom. He credited the medical professionals involved in his care, as well as his personal support network, with guiding him through the treatment process and recovery. His account provided a patient perspective on outcomes from the trial that produced promising clinical data announced earlier this year.
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