What Merck Stopped Saying About GARDASIL Should Change What You Watch

A Phase III trial showed that intismeran autogene, a personalized mRNA therapy, combined with pembrolizumab, reduced the risk of death or recurrence by 42% in high-risk melanoma patients. The study, presented at ESMO 2026, enrolled 1,137 patients and demonstrated improved recurrence-free and distant metastasis-free survival. Despite the positive clinical results, a data leak caused shares of manufacturers Moderna and Merck to fall.

Merck and Moderna's Phase 3 trial showed a 42% reduction in melanoma recurrence or death risk when combining their mRNA vaccine with Keytruda. The trial involved 1,137 patients with high-risk melanoma. Overall survival data is pending. The vaccine is not yet approved, and commercial success is uncertain. Moderna aims for approval in 2025.

Moderna and Merck reported that their cancer vaccine, combined with Merck's Keytruda, reduced melanoma death and recurrence risk by 42% in a trial of 1,100 patients. The results, based on two-year data, will be presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology meeting. Analysts expected a 40%+ risk reduction.

Moderna and Merck's personalized mRNA cancer vaccine, combined with pembrolizumab, reduced melanoma recurrence or death risk by 42% in a Phase III trial with 1,137 patients. After two years, 82.2% of vaccine group patients were alive without recurrence, versus 70.0% with pembrolizumab alone. The vaccine targets individual tumor mutations, showing broader applicability in high-risk melanoma.

Moderna and Merck's Phase 3 trial of personalized melanoma vaccine intismeran autogene with Keytruda showed a 42% reduction in recurrence or death risk vs. Keytruda alone. Two-year recurrence-free survival was 82.2% for the combination vs. 70.0% for Keytruda alone. The combination had more adverse events. Specialists called results clinically meaningful but not yet establishing longer life. Moderna shares fell 17.57% following the release.

Moderna and Merck's experimental melanoma vaccine, combined with Keytruda, reduced recurrence or death risk by 42% in a Phase 3 trial. Despite positive results, Moderna's shares fell 18%, likely due to high investor expectations. The vaccine is personalized using mRNA technology, targeting unique tumor mutations. Trial data showed 82.2% of patients treated with the vaccine and Keytruda were alive without recurrence after two years, compared to 70% with Keytruda alone.