Overview
- Moderna and Merck released detailed INTerpath-001 results on Oct. 22 after an online leak forced ESMO to lift an embargo and the companies publish the full dataset.
- The randomized trial of 1,137 resected stage IIB–IV melanoma patients found intismeran plus pembrolizumab reduced the risk of recurrence or death by 42% and distant metastasis or death by 38% at about two years, with two‑year recurrence‑free survival roughly 82% versus 70%.
- Treatment‑related side effects were common and resembled typical mRNA vaccine reactions, with similar rates of serious (grade 3–5) events between arms (14.2% versus 13.4%).
- Intismeran is tailored from each patient’s tumor neoantigens (up to 34 targets) and currently takes about six weeks from sequencing to delivery, creating questions about manufacturing scale, cost and timely access for patients.
- Merck and Moderna are engaging regulators, preparing a New England Journal of Medicine publication and wider trials in lung, pancreatic and other cancers while investigators continue follow‑up to assess whether the early benefit translates into longer overall survival.