Moderna’s Cancer Vaccine Success Could Slash Risk by 42%
WHO:
Inc - Merck and Moderna developed the personalized mRNA vaccine described in the article.
STAT - Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel discussed the company’s cancer-vaccine program and plans for intismeran.
STAT - Adam Feuerstein is a senior writer and biotech columnist at STAT, co-host of its weekly biotech podcast *The Readout Loud*, and author of the newsletter *Adam’s Biotech Scorecard*.
WHAT:
Bloomberg Markets - Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel said the personalized mRNA cancer vaccine being developed with Merck could work in a variety of tumors beyond melanoma.
Bloomberg Markets - Bancel said the recent data leak concerning the cancer-vaccine candidate did not come from Moderna or Merck.
Inc - A Phase 3 clinical trial found that a personalized mRNA vaccine from Merck and Moderna reduced the risk of melanoma returning by 42%.
STAT - The Phase 3 study was the first to demonstrate that the customized mRNA-based therapy intismeran could improve outcomes for patients with melanoma.
STAT - Bancel said the company had worked on intismeran for 10 years and called the achievement “an amazing feeling.”
STAT - Bancel said many in the field had thought the approach would not work, and that other people had tried cancer vaccines before.
STAT - The interview covered what comes next for intismeran and the implications of its success for Moderna’s research and development and business strategies.
WHERE:
STAT - Bancel spoke with STAT in Madrid, Spain, on the sidelines of the European Society for Medical Oncology annual meeting.
WHY:
STAT - Bancel said the team was convinced the approach could work despite skepticism and earlier attempts at cancer vaccines.
STAT - Bancel said the result was special because the work of many people had come together to help patients.
HOW:
Inc - The treatment is a personalized mRNA vaccine.
STAT - Intismeran is a customized mRNA-based therapy developed through Moderna’s research and a partnership with Merck.
(UPDATED October 26, 2026 23:25 UTC)
A Phase 3 trial found that a personalized mRNA cancer vaccine developed by Merck and Moderna reduced the risk of melanoma returning by 42%, marking the first study to show the customized therapy intismeran improved outcomes for melanoma patients. Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel said the vaccine could work against a range of tumors beyond melanoma and that a recent data leak about the candidate did not come from either company. Bancel said Moderna had worked on intismeran for 10 years despite skepticism about cancer vaccines, calling the result an amazing feeling.
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(UPDATED October 26, 2026 22:05 UTC)
A Phase 3 trial found that Merck and Moderna’s personalized mRNA vaccine reduced the risk of melanoma returning by 42%, marking the first evidence that intismeran can improve outcomes for patients with the disease. Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel said the vaccine could work against a range of tumors beyond melanoma, and that a recent data leak about the candidate did not come from either company. Bancel said Moderna had worked on intismeran for 10 years despite skepticism, and called the achievement special because many people’s efforts came together to help patients.
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(UPDATED October 26, 2026 21:02 UTC)
A Phase 3 trial found that a personalized mRNA vaccine developed by Merck and Moderna cut the risk of melanoma returning by 42 percent, marking the first time this customized approach has shown improved outcomes for melanoma patients. Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel said the company had worked on intismeran for 10 years, despite skepticism and earlier attempts at cancer vaccines, and called the result an amazing feeling. Speaking with STAT in Madrid, Bancel discussed what comes next for intismeran and what its success could mean for Moderna’s research and business strategy.