Two months after Merck said it would pay Moderna $250 million to co-develop this collaboration, a phase 2b trial found a 44 percent reduction in the risk of recurrence or death in stage 3/4 melanoma patients compared to Keytruda on its own. Serious side effects occurred in 14.4 percent of the combined-therapy group versus 10 percent in Keytruda-only patients.
“Today’s results are highly encouraging for the field of cancer treatment,” Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel said in a statement. “mRNA has been transformative for COVID-19, and now, for the first time ever, we have demonstrated the potential for mRNA to have an impact on outcomes in a randomized clinical trial in melanoma.”
A phase 3 trial to further test the mRNA-based technology and Keytruda among patients with skin cancer is planned to start in 2023, according to the drugmakers.
Becker’s 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit is the top tier event that the people leading the future of pharmacy convene. This 3-day event is built specifically for Chief Pharmacy Officers and senior pharmacy leaders. The sessions examine the workforce, financial and clinical priorities shaping pharmacy today. Becker’s is where candid discussions flourish and new ideas thrive. Becker's 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit
