Researchers have announced results from a large clinical trial testing a new personalised cancer vaccine administered alongside an established immunotherapy drug in melanoma patients. The combination therapy reduced the risk of disease recurrence or patient death by 42% compared to immunotherapy alone, and lowered the risk of cancer spread by 38% over a two-year period.
The trial enrolled 1,137 adults with melanoma who had undergone surgical removal of their tumours. Participants received Keytruda, an existing immunotherapy medication, with approximately two-thirds also receiving the experimental vaccine called Intismeran and the remainder receiving a placebo. The vaccine employs messenger RNA technology similar to certain COVID-19 vaccines and is customised for each patient based on genetic information from their specific tumour to train the immune system to recognise and attack cancer cells.
Drug manufacturers MSD and Moderna indicated that they are currently investigating the same approach in other cancer types, including kidney, bladder, and lung cancers. The companies stated they are in discussions with regulatory authorities regarding potential approval filings as early as next year. However, broader implementation through the National Health Service will face considerations regarding cost, as each patient’s tumour requires genetic analysis and individualised vaccine production.
Independent oncologists characterised the trial results as encouraging but cautioned that extended follow-up studies are necessary to confirm whether the treatment improves overall survival rates. Researchers noted the trial represents important proof of principle for personalised medicine approaches, though results from a single melanoma trial cannot automatically be assumed to apply across other cancer types. The full trial results are scheduled for presentation at a medical oncology conference, pending publication in a peer-reviewed journal for additional expert evaluation.
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