Moderna"s cancer vaccine shows promise in patient trials

A promising cancer vaccine, mRNA-4359, developed by Moderna, has shown positive results in early trials involving 19 patients with advanced solid tumours, including melanoma and lung cancer. The treatment aims to enhance the immune system's ability to recognize and combat cancer cells. In the trial, eight out of 16 evaluated patients experienced no tumour growth or new tumours, and the treatment was well tolerated with no serious side effects reported. The study, led by Dr. Debashis Sarker from King's College London, is considered an important first step towards developing a new treatment for advanced cancers. The mRNA technology used in this vaccine is similar to that of Covid-19 vaccines, teaching the immune system to differentiate between cancerous and healthy cells. The first patient in the UK to receive the jab was an 81-year-old man with malignant melanoma, who was treated at Hammersmith Hospital in late October. The ongoing study is currently enrolling patients with specific cancers, including melanoma and non-small-cell lung cancer, to receive mRNA-4359 in combination with pembrolizumab (Keytruda). Kyle Holen from Moderna expressed optimism about the phase 1 results, highlighting the vaccine's potential to elicit strong immune responses while maintaining a manageable safety profile. This trial is part of a broader effort to explore various cancer vaccines, including personalized mRNA jabs tailored to individual patients' tumours.