Modern (NASDAQ:mRNA) and Merck (New York Stock Exchange: MRK) announced Monday that its high-risk skin cancer vaccine, in combination with Keytruda, showed a significant improvement in patients' survival rate.
The data also showed that at the median follow-up of the mid-stage study, mRNA-415 in combination with Keytruda reduced the risk of recurrence or death by 49% and the risk of distant metastasis or death by 62% compared with KEYTRUDA alone in these patients.
Previous data presented in December showed a 49% decrease in recurrence or death for high-risk skin cancer patients.
The companies stated that the 2.5-year recurrence-free survival rate was 74.8% compared to 55.6% for Keytruda alone, and the benefit was seen in all exploratory subgroups.
The safety profile of this new technology-based cancer vaccine in combination with Merck's successful therapy at median follow-up was also consistent.
