Enlicitide Cuts LDL-C Regardless of Kidney Function

Moderna and Merck reported late-stage trial results showing their personalized mRNA melanoma vaccine, intismeran, reduced relapse risk by 42% when combined with Keytruda. The trial involved 1,137 patients, with 82% of vaccine recipients showing no recurrence after two years, compared to 70% for the placebo group. The companies plan to present the findings at a medical conference and continue long-term studies.

Merck (MRK) will acquire Silence Therapeutics (SLN) for $1.3B, or $20 per ADS, an 82% premium. Silence's Phase 3-ready siRNA therapy for polycythemia vera will join Merck's pipeline. The deal, expected to close in Q1 2027, aims to boost Merck's rare disease portfolio and aligns with its specialty healthcare strategy.

Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) plus chemo did not significantly improve event-free survival (EFS) in cisplatin-eligible muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) patients, per KEYNOTE-866 trial results. Median EFS was 74.1 months with pembrolizumab vs not reached with placebo (HR 0.88, P = .1366). Overall survival (OS) was similar, and pCR rate was higher with pembrolizumab. Adverse effects were consistent with prior reports. The trial enrolled 907 patients, with EFS as the primary endpoint.

Merck and Moderna reported positive results from a cancer vaccine trial. The personalized vaccine, combined with existing immunotherapy, reduced melanoma recurrence by training the immune system to target cancer cells, according to the study.

Moderna and Merck reported Phase 3 data showing their cancer vaccine, combined with Keytruda, reduced melanoma recurrence or death by 42% over two years. Long-term efficacy remains uncertain.

Moderna and Merck's personalized mRNA vaccine, intismeran, reduced melanoma recurrence risk by 42% in a late-stage trial. The vaccine, tailored to each patient's tumor, was tested on 1,137 Stage 3 melanoma patients alongside Merck's Keytruda immunotherapy. After two years, 82% of vaccine recipients showed no recurrence compared to 70% in the placebo group. The results will be presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology meeting.