The pharmaceutical companies Moderna and Merck (MSD in Israel) announced yesterday (Tuesday) preliminary results in a trial for a vaccine against melanoma.
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In a clinical trial (phase 2) conducted by the companies in which the participants received a component of mRNA4157/V940 in combination with Keytrode, a statistically significant and clinically significant decrease in the risk of disease recurrence or death was demonstrated, compared to monotherapy with Keytrode in advanced stage melanoma patients with a high risk of recurrence after complete resection.
The results demonstrate for the first time the effectiveness of cancer treatment using research mRNA in a randomized clinical trial. According to preliminary results published by the company, the compound, in a personalized vaccine, given to 157 patients who suffered from stage III/IV melanoma skin cancer, was able to prevent the recurrence of the disease by 44%.
This is progress that may lead to additional vaccines against cancer and the two companies plan to contact the regulatory authorities and initiate a phase 3 study in melanoma in 2023, with the aim of rapidly expanding to other types of tumors.
“For the first time we have proof that it is possible to develop an immune response against cancer,” said Dr. Stephen Hoge, president of Moderna. However, it should be taken into account that this is an initial trial and a small group of patients.
As part of the study, patients were randomly assigned to receive one of two treatments: one group was treated with the biological drug Keytruda, which helps the immune system attack cancer cells. The second group received the Keytrode drug together with a personalized cancer vaccine, developed as mentioned on the basis of mRNA technology.
All patients underwent surgery to remove their melanoma tumor. The researchers constructed a personalized genetic sequence from each of the patients’ tumors, so that the immune system could recognize it and attack it. The constructed mRNA was then injected into the patients’ arms, in the same way as other vaccines are given. Thus, the immune system “learned” to recognize the cancerous tumor and prepare to destroy it when necessary. The patients received up to nine doses of the cancer-adapted vaccine and were treated and monitored for at least two years.
“Moderna” has now only reported the general results of the patients and has not yet given details about the levels of T-type white blood cells created in the body to destroy the tumor. The company is still collecting the data and will provide more details later.
“The key to the success of our vaccine is that it is adapted to each patient’s tumor,” Hoge explained, “which makes it possible to get a precise and targeted response to their cancer. The flexibility of the mRNA technology makes this possible, as demonstrated by the corona vaccines.”
Hoge also added that the patients will continue to be monitored for at least another year after the completion of the treatment. The social scientists will monitor the continuation of the immune response and the recurrence of the tumor in the future. According to him, the vaccine may even be used in healthy people who do not suffer from melanoma but are at high risk of skin cancer, to prevent the disease.