In 2016, the Merck he took a great "leap of faith" in Science. He gave as much as 200 million dollars to Modern for research and development of personalized cancer vaccines based on m. At the time, in fact, this technology had not yet been approved for use in any form.
It was not an entirely disinterested faith, of course. Part of that agreement specified that if Moderna was able to complete proof-of-concept studies of an mRNA vaccine for humans, Merck would have the option to pay an (undisclosed) amount to co-develop and commercialize this Vaccine.
Since then, mRNA has proven itself very well with the development of vaccines Covid-19, albeit in different and not entirely quantifiable measures (and with just as many adverse effects yet to be fully explored). Based on these studies and others still underway, an mRNA vaccine against cancer now seems just around the corner.
mRNA vaccine against cancer, Merck "goes to cash"
Merck is now exercising its option on mRNA-4157, a melanoma vaccine currently in phase 2 testing. The pharmaceutical company and Moderna are studying it in combination with Keytruda, a monoclonal antibody.
“This long-term collaboration combining Merck's expertise in immuno-oncology with Moderna's pioneering mRNA technology has resulted in a new tailored vaccine approach,” he says Eliav Barr, head of global clinical development and CMO of Merck Research Laboratories.
Vaccine mRNA, first of all: it is a Yes or No vaccine?
Disclaimer: This has been a divisive topic for a few years, and I know there will be some controversy over the very definition of “vaccine.” When there are new mechanisms of action and technologies it is always complicated to redefine the boundaries. I leave this debate to the virologists, real and keyboard ones, and I limit myself to using the word "vaccine" as it was received by the agencies that broke the news first.
A personalized approach
Moderna's anticancer mRNA vaccine is unique in that it is created specifically for each patient, unlike others that are mass-produced. Also, this vaccine works to treat an existing disease rather than prevent it altogether.
To create each vaccine, Moderna uses a sample of the patient's tumor. It then uses genetic sequencing technology to identify proteins present in the tissue, called “neoantigens”. These are found only on the surface of cancer cells and differ from person to person based on their tumor.
Moderna's technology then creates an mRNA vaccine that instructs the formation of 34 cancer-specific neoantigens. These neoantigens will be potential targets of an immune response. The goal is to help the immune system identify and attack cancer cells more effectively. And given the investments, it is likely that we will have rather comforting results.
What happens now
In Moderna's Phase 2 study of mRNA-4157, 157 patients with high-risk melanoma they underwent surgical removal of the tumor. Some were then given nine doses of a personalized mRNA vaccine and one dose of Keytruda every three weeks for a year. The others only received Keytruda once every three weeks, again for a year.
The primary objective of the study is survival from relapse and, if we take Merck's new investment as any indication, it is reasonable to expect positive results.
“Looking forward to the expected results for this quarter,” said the president of Moderna stephen hoge, “we continue to be excited about the future and the impact that mRNA can have as a new treatment paradigm in cancer management.”
It is appropriate to say, excuse the cynicism: who will live, will see.
