Personalised therapy targets tumor mutations

Developed using the same messenger RNA technology utilised in COVID-19 vaccines, the personalised therapy works by analysing a sample of a patient's tumor to target its unique mutational fingerprint. When administered alongside the standard immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab, the treatment demonstrated significant success over a roughly one-year period involving 1,137 patients who had undergone surgery. Following the announcement, Moderna shares surged 129% to $144, while Merck stock climbed over 10% to $150.

Companies plan durther trials and approvals

Independent oncologists praised the findings as a vital "proof of principle" that personalised cancer vaccines can effectively work, though experts noted that complete data presentation and long-term recurrence tracking are still needed. Building on this breakthrough, the companies plan to present their full data at an upcoming international conference, pursue regulatory approvals, and continue exploring the therapy across various stages and types of cancer, including lung, bladder, and kidney tumors.