Moderna jumps 7% on positive skin cancer vaccine update

Moderna (NASDAQ:) shares rose more than 4% in pre-market Thursday after the company said its vaccine candidate, developed together with Merck (MRK) cuts the risk of skin cancer returning by nearly half.

According to the press release, mRNA-4157 (V940) in combination with KEYTRUDA demonstrated promising results.

Moderna shares jumped 7.3% on the news while Merck stock added 0.4%.

The treatment reduced the risk of recurrence or death by 49% and the risk of distant metastasis or death by 62% compared to KEYTRUDA alone in stage III/IV melanoma patients with a high risk of recurrence post-complete resection.

These findings build on the primary analysis reported at AACR and ASCO in 2023, showing a 44% reduction in the risk of recurrence or death and a 65% reduction in the risk of distant metastasis or death at a median planned follow-up of approximately two years.

The companies have initiated Phase 3 studies in the adjuvant setting for patients with high-risk melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer, with plans to expand to additional tumor types rapidly.

“As we continue to follow participants in the KEYNOTE-942/mRNA-4157-P201 study, we are excited to see such a robust clinical benefit with mRNA-4157 (V940) as adjuvant treatment in combination with KEYTRUDA in people with resected high-risk melanoma,” said Kyle Holen, M.D., Moderna’s Senior Vice President and Head of Development, Therapeutics and Oncology.