These two companies have been working together since 2015, and well before the collabo on the Covid-19 vaccine, on all sorts of mRNA based approaches, primarily in solid tumors / oncology. Now, the first and most likely candidate is ready for human trials. The hope here is that the candidate mRNA-4157 will help melanoma patients (using personalized markers) boost their own internal T-cell production, and use those to fight the cancerous cells. It will be tested in combination with Merck's juggernaut Keytruda®, as regular readers well-know -- already shown to be highly effective in melanoma.
Indeed -- the time of cancer's dominance over human longevity. . . may already be drawn to a close, at least in certain fairly common cancers. Much yet to be done, of course, but Moderna's stock popped nicely this morning on the news -- and the promise of a whole new way of approaching the oncology wards. Here's a bit, from Reuters reporting:
. . .Merck opted to jointly develop and potentially sell a personalized mRNA vaccine with Moderna Inc. for a $250 million upfront payment on Wednesday, sending the vaccine maker's shares up over 8%.
Moderna's experimental vaccine is being tested in combination with Merck's blockbuster cancer immunotherapy, Keytruda, in a mid-stage trial to treat patients with melanoma. Data on the vaccine, mRNA-4157, is expected in the fourth quarter of this year. . . .
In 2016, Merck and Moderna entered a strategic partnership to develop a personalized vaccine for treatment of various types of cancer. Merck in 2020 sold its equity investment in Moderna, benefiting from a surge in the vaccine-maker's stock price that year. . . .
Smiling, even on this rather drab morning, as a soft, cool rain. . . falls in a patter, on the now mostly golden leaves.
नमस्ते
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