Moderna shares surged over 120% Wednesday following the announcement of initial positive results from a study of its experimental mRNA cancer vaccine. The treatment, developed in partnership with Merck, is designed to be personalized for individual patients by targeting unique tumor mutations.
In the ongoing study, the mRNA vaccine, known as intisemran, was administered alongside Merck's immunotherapy drug Keytruda. According to the companies, patients who received the combination therapy experienced a longer period without their melanoma returning or spreading compared to those treated with Keytruda alone. Specific survival data, including overall survival benefits, were not disclosed in the initial announcement.
Moderna and Merck plan to present the detailed findings from this study at an upcoming international medical conference. The news sent Moderna's stock price soaring to $140.12 per share, while Merck's shares saw an approximate 11% increase.