mRNA Vaccine for Skin Cancer Treatment Succeeds in Phase Three.. Moderna's Stock Jumps 160%

- The companies "Moderna" and "Merck" announced that a late-stage clinical trial for an mRNA treatment designed according to the characteristics of each patient's tumor successfully achieved its goals for treating melanoma, in a step that could represent a significant breakthrough in cancer treatment. The announcement on Wednesday led to a nearly 160% rise in Moderna's stock, at a time when the company is working to diversify its product portfolio away from its COVID-19 vaccine.

The company recently added an FDA-approved flu vaccine, while developing experimental vaccines for diseases including norovirus infection and Lyme disease. Analysts have pointed out that the results of the cancer vaccine could be an important catalyst for the company and help boost investor confidence, which has declined after peaking during the pandemic.

Analysts at Barclays estimated last month that the treatment could generate around $3 billion in annual revenues for melanoma treatment by 2035. Meg Terrell from CNBC outlines the details of the phase three results for melanoma treatment.

Both Moderna and its partner Merck reported that a late-stage clinical trial achieved its goals in treating melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. The trial showed that the treatment reduced the risk of cancer recurrence or spread to other parts of the body in patients who underwent cancer surgery.

As for the mechanism of action of this treatment, a sample is taken from each patient's tumor, and then a personalized mRNA-based treatment is designed specifically for them. The treatment, similar to a vaccine, teaches the immune system how to recognize the target and is administered alongside an existing melanoma treatment called "Keytruda."

The two companies have not yet published the full results of the study, so we do not yet know precisely the extent of the benefits provided by the treatment. The companies state that they will present these results at an upcoming medical conference.

They add that they intend to submit a request for regulatory approval for the melanoma treatment in the coming months. The companies are also testing this treatment in other types of cancer, including lung, kidney, and bladder cancer.

The CEO of "Moderna" told Afaaq News correspondent Meg Tirrell that he felt this day was as significant for humanity as the day the company proved the success of its COVID-19 vaccine in late 2020, describing it as a "new chapter in cancer treatment."