STORYLINE  ·  active

Moderna and Merck's Personalized Cancer Vaccine Development

A continuing development in the clinical trials and market response to a groundbreaking mRNA vaccine for melanoma being researched by Moderna and Merck.

Moderna's personalized cancer vaccine clears phase 3 melanoma trial

2026-08-22

Moderna announced Wednesday that its personalized mRNA cancer vaccine, given alongside Merck's immunotherapy drug Keytruda, met both primary and secondary goals in a phase 3 melanoma trial. The company's stock nearly tripled on the announcement, adding $44 billion to market value. At the company's Cambridge, Massachusetts, headquarters, meetings were canceled and roughly 4,500 employees crowded into the company cafeteria as Chief Executive Stéphane Bancel took the stage.

Merck and Moderna melanoma vaccine extends cancer-free period in phase 3 trial

2026-08-20

Merck and Moderna reported this week that their personalized mRNA vaccine, given alongside the immunotherapy drug Keytruda, extended the time high-risk melanoma patients remained cancer-free after surgery in a phase 3 clinical trial. The drugmakers said the combination significantly reduced the risk that the disease would spread to other organs compared with Keytruda alone, though they cautioned that the interim results have not yet been peer-reviewed.

Moderna shares more than double after melanoma trial

2026-08-19

Moderna's shares more than doubled Wednesday after the company and partner Merck announced initial results from a study of an experimental cancer treatment that would be the first of its kind if approved by regulators. Merck shares rose about 11% on the news.