Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA) is beginning a mid-stage trial of its experimental cancer vaccine in partnership with Merck (MRK). MRNA will test its experimental cancer vaccine on patients diagnosed with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), a type of skin cancer. The news lifted investors’ sentiments, resulting in MRNA stock closing about 9% higher in yesterday’s regular trading session.
The companies plan to enroll about 1012 participants in the study and expect to start the trial in mid-April. The trial will assess the efficacy of MRNA’s V940, an individualized neoantigen therapy (INT), in combination with MRK’s Keytruda or pembrolizumab. Keytruda holds approval for use in various cancer treatments. The trial will evaluate this combination therapy in patients with surgically removable cSCC compared to the current standard of care.
It is worth mentioning that this trial marks MRNA’s strategic expansion of its…
