Amman, Aug. 19 (Petra) U.S. pharmaceutical companies Merck and Moderna announced Wednesday positive results from the final stage of clinical trials for their experimental messenger RNA (mRNA) skin cancer vaccine, intended for patients with advanced melanoma.

According to Agence France-Presse, the joint statement marks the first time positive Phase 3 clinical trial results have been disclosed for an mRNA-based cancer therapy.

The individualized therapy, known as intismeran autogene, was administered alongside Merck’s immunotherapy drug Keytruda. The combination yielded a statistically significant improvement in recurrence-free survival among high-risk melanoma patients following surgical resection, compared with Keytruda monotherapy.

Intismeran autogene uses mRNA technology to instruct cells to produce proteins that trigger a targeted immune response. Custom-built for each patient using specific mutations identified within their tumor, the vaccine trains and activates the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells.

//Petra// AF

19/08/2026 22:25:03