mRNA cancer vaccine
Human trial
- What happened
Full results from 1,137 patients, presented at the ESMO Congress in Madrid: adding the vaccine to Keytruda cut the risk of recurrence or death by 42%.
- Why it matters
Given with the immunotherapy drug Keytruda after surgery for high-risk melanoma, it cut the risk of the cancer coming back, or death, by 42% in a large trial.
Healio, 23 Oct 2026- How far from your life
Real-world testing
Personalized mRNA cancer vaccine (intismeran autogene) is on step 3 of 5. Could reach you in a few years if the tests go well.
- Source
“The combination reduced risk for recurrence or death by 42%, findings presented at ESMO Congress showed.”Healio, 23 Oct 2026
“I’m genuinely excited about the results, and it is important to understand this is more than just a new drug.”Patrick Ott, Clinical director of the Melanoma Disease Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
The bigger picture
More on mRNA cancer vaccine
On step 3 of 5: Real-world testing. Everything we track on it
- Human trialCompany-reported
Merck and Moderna said their phase 3 trial in people whose high-risk melanoma had been removed met its main goal: with Keytruda, the vaccine lowered the risk of the cancer returning.
The ASCO Post, 21 Aug 2026