Novel mRNA vaccine plus immunotherapy reduces melanoma relapse in phase 3 trial

• Different stages of melanoma have a higher risk of the skin cancer coming back after being surgically removed.
• An experimental therapy developed by Merck and Moderna aims to help lower the recurrence rate in people with completely resected stage IIB-IV melanoma.
• Participants in the clinical study of their new mRNA-based treatment experienced a 49% reduction in melanoma recurrence or death.

In 2022, about 330,000 people around the world were diagnosed with the skin cancer melanoma, with about 60,000 people dying from the condition.

Different stages of melanoma have a higher risk for recurrence — coming back after being surgically removed. For instance, past studies show that stage III melanoma carries a high recurrence risk of 40% to as much as 90% at five years following surgery.

On August 19, pharmaceutical companies Merck and Moderna announced the phase 3 clinical study results for an experimental therapy designed to help lower the recurrence rate in people with stage IIB-IV melanoma who have had their tumor completely removed.

Medical News Today spoke with seven melanoma experts to find out more about this potential new treatment and how it may help lower recurrence risk in people with higher stages of melanoma.