NewsFox 13 News (WTVT) — All NewsAugust 19, 2026Hillsborough
Moderna and Merck report successful late-stage trial for personalized mRNA melanoma vaccine
Moderna and Merck announced that their personalized mRNA cancer vaccine, when used alongside the immunotherapy drug Keytruda, reduced the risk of melanoma recurrence or spread in a late-stage clinical trial. The companies are now preparing for potential regulatory approval, with the treatment potentially available to high-risk patients as early as next year.
Read the full story at Fox 13 News (WTVT) — All NewsWhy It Matters
This trial represents the first successful late-stage study of an cancer vaccine, potentially offering a new treatment pathway for patients with high-risk melanoma and impacting the future of .
Key Facts
- The mRNA vaccine trial showed a reduction in the risk of melanoma returning or spreading.
- The vaccine is designed to train the immune system to recognize and attack specific mutations in cancer cells.
- The study is the first to show that adding a vaccine to Keytruda treatment is more effective than Keytruda alone.
- Moderna's shares rose by 160%, adding approximately $40 billion to the company's market value.
- Merck's shares rose 11% following the announcement.
- The Nasdaq Biotechnology Index reached a record high of 4.4% growth.
- The vaccine is personalized for each patient, which may present manufacturing scale challenges.
- More than 1.5 million people in the U.S. were living with melanoma in 2023.
- The cost of the treatment has not yet been determined.
Who's Mentioned
organizationModerna“Developer of the mRNA cancer vaccine”personDonald Trump“Former President whose administration criticized mRNA technology”personStephane Bancel“CEO of Moderna”organizationMerck“Partner in vaccine development and manufacturer of Keytruda”personStephen Hoge“President of Moderna”personKaren Knudsen“CEO of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy”