Four of 11 assessed patients responded to Moderna's experimental treatment, with no serious related side effects observed.

Moderna (MRNA) stock has surged over 800% in the past year, driven by optimism around its cancer vaccine, intismeran, developed with Merck (MRK). Clinical trials showed a 42% reduction in melanoma recurrence and death when combined with Merck's Keytruda. However, mass production may be challenging due to its personalized nature, potentially limiting profitability. Analysts project over $5 billion in peak annual sales for melanoma treatment alone, but approval and scalability remain uncertain.

Personalis (PSNL) announced a $50M investment from Merck (MRK) at $3.56 per share, giving Merck a 16.5% stake. The company also extended its collaboration with Moderna (MRNA) for its ImmunoID NeXT Platform in cancer therapy development.

Merck and Moderna's mRNA vaccine, tailored to patients' genetic profiles, reduced melanoma recurrence by 42% in a phase 3 trial when combined with immunotherapy. The vaccine, called intismeran, targets neoantigens in tumor cells, training the immune system to attack them. The study involved 1137 patients, with 82% of those receiving the vaccine and immunotherapy surviving without recurrence after two years, compared to 70% with immunotherapy alone.

Merck (MRK) and Moderna (MRNA) reported that their experimental personalized cancer vaccine, combined with Merck's Keytruda, reduced melanoma recurrence or death risk by 42% in a Phase 3 trial. Merck's Q3 Keytruda sales reached $8.6B, up 6% YoY, but faces patent expiration in 2028. The companies' shares rose on the news, with Merck up 4% and Moderna's value increasing by $30B in one session.

Analysts made notable calls this week. D.A. Davidson upgraded Broadcom (AVGO) to Buy with a $400 price target, citing AI-related growth prospects. William Blair downgraded Moderna (MRNA) to Market Perform due to valuation concerns. Argus downgraded Abbott (ABT) to Hold after its reduced growth outlook. Jefferies upgraded Rivian (RIVN) to Buy, citing progress in margins and execution. GF Securities raised AMD's (AMD) price target to $720, expecting strong data center growth.

Merck and Moderna's personalized mRNA vaccine for melanoma reduced relapse risk by 42% in a phase 3 trial, with 82.2% of vaccinated patients relapse-free after 2 years. The vaccine targets neoantigens unique to each patient's tumor, but concerns include high costs and potential limitations compared to existing immunotherapies, according to SCIENCE.