Tailored mRNA cancer vaccines show promise against melanoma and beyond

Personalized mRNA cancer vaccines from Moderna and Merck are showing promising late-stage results in cancers such as melanoma, pancreatic and brain tumors by training the immune system to recognize tumor-specific mutations. When combined with immunotherapy, these vaccines have reduced cancer recurrence and extended remission in some patients. More than 120 trials since the early 2000s illustrate ongoing progress and optimization of targets and combinations, though bringing an mRNA cancer vaccine to the public could take 10–15 years amid funding shifts.