Merck/Moderna cancer vaccine cuts risk of death or recurrence from melanoma by over 40%

Oct 22 (Reuters) An mRNA cancer vaccine developed by Moderna and Merck in combination with a widely used ​immunotherapy cut the risk of death ‌or recurrence of melanoma by 42% and disease spread by 38%, according to data from a large trial, potentially paving the way for ‌a ​new era of personalized ⁠treatment. The trial of ⁠more than 1,100 patients is the first to show that the combination of a vaccine based on mutations unique to ​each patient s tumor plus a drug that helps the immune system fight ⁠cancer can keep the ⁠disease at bay. The vaccine ​was tested along with Merck s blockbuster immunotherapy Keytruda, ​among the world s biggest-selling medicines. Moderna and ‌Merck announced in August that the treatment had succeeded in the trial but did not provide details. The results, based on ⁠patient data for the first two years after treatment, are scheduled to be presented on Saturday ⁠at ‌the European Society for Medical ⁠Oncology meeting in Madrid. Several Wall ​Street ‌analysts