Personalized mRNA Vaccine Plus Immunotherapy Cuts Melanoma Recurrence by Half
A phase 2b trial (KEYNOTE-942) shows adding the personalized mRNA vaccine intismeran to pembrolizumab after melanoma surgery reduces recurrence or death by 49% over five years. The combo also lowers distant metastasis risk by 59% and yields 92.2% overall survival versus 71.3% with pembrolizumab alone. Five-year follow-up found 68.8% cancer-free in the combo group vs 50.9% in controls. The study, conducted in the US and Australia with 107 patients in the combo arm and 50 in control, reported manageable side effects and is guiding a phase 3 trial, with Moderna and Merck funding.