Moderna mRNA melanoma vaccine may be ‘the penicillin moment’ in cancer treatment, researchers say.
Biotech company Moderna has been trialling a new Melanoma vaccine which provides personalised cancer treatment and may reduce the risk of recurrence or death from melanoma by 44 percent, compared with results from its immunotherapy drug alone.
The Phase II clinical trial of the melanoma treatment involved 157 patients with stage three or stage four melanoma whose tumours had been surgically removed. It was conducted in Australia and the US targeting patients who were at high risk of their cancer returning, and has not yet been peer-reviewed, or published in a scientific journal.
Moderna and the researchers will now present the results to regulatory authorities with a view to conducting a trial of 1000 patients next year. Professor Georgina Long of the Melanoma Institute of Australia said research into treating melanoma had driven the development of immunotherapies and was now forging a way to treat cancer with mRNA vaccines.
“It is absolutely a world first, to show you can personalise a cancer vaccine in patients who already have cancer.”
An exciting early result and we look forward to seeing how this treatment works in the next trial phase. Please ask your treating Doctor if you would like to participate in a clinical trial here at Tasman Health Care.
Tasman Health Care is an Oncology clinic and research-focused group based on Queensland’s Gold Coast. We have an onsite Day Infusion Unit and specialise in Cancer care and treatment. We also provide a large percentage of our patients, insured or uninsured, the opportunity to access new pharmaceuticals only available through a trial opportunity.
To make an appointment with one of our Doctors, Genetic Counsellors or team of Allied Health Specialists please contact us (07) 5613 2480 or reception@tasmanhealthcare.com.au.
