Positive Results from Earlier Trial
These recent findings build upon previous data from a midstage trial released earlier this year. In that study, conducted on 157 patients, the combination of the vaccine and Keytruda lowered the risk of death or relapse by 44% after around two years. Furthermore, it reduced the spread of cancer in the body by 65%.
Side Effects and Technology
After three years, the most commonly reported side effects of the vaccine were fatigue, injection site pain, and chills. It’s worth noting that the vaccine utilizes the same mRNA technology used in Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine. The cancer vaccine is tailored to each patient based on an analysis of their tumors after surgical removal.
Keytruda and Breakthrough Therapy Designation
Merck’s Keytruda, a checkpoint inhibitor that is currently approved for treating melanoma and other cancers, hinders a protein that enables cancer to evade the immune system. In February, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted breakthrough therapy designation to the cancer vaccine for the treatment of melanoma. This designation is intended to fast-track the development and review of treatments for severe and life-threatening diseases.
Future Trials and Melanoma Statistics
Continuing with their research, the drugmakers have initiated a late-stage trial focusing on the combination as a treatment for non-small cell lung cancer. Melanoma is responsible for the majority of skin cancer deaths in the United States. According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 100,000 people will be diagnosed with melanoma this year alone, with nearly 8,000 people expected to lose their lives to the disease.