Personalized mRNA Cancer Vaccines
Moderna and Merck announced on January 21, 2026, that five-year follow-up data for their personalized mRNA cancer vaccine, mRNA-4157/V940, demonstrated sustained protection and a nearly 50% lower risk of recurrence or death in melanoma patients compared to standard therapies. As of March 2, 2026, federal funding for RNA vaccine research, including cancer and melanoma, shows significant investment, with the National Cancer Institute awarding grants for solid tumors. Australia launched the world-first PaedNEO-VAX clinical trial on February 2, 2026, to treat children with advanced brain tumors using personalized mRNA vaccines, while Moderna continues Phase 2 and 3 studies for mRNA-4157 in non-small cell lung cancer. New five-year follow-up data from the KEYNOTE-942/mRNA-4157-P201 study on February 3, 2026, further reinforced these findings, showing a 49% lower risk of recurrence or death for patients treated with the vaccine combined with Keytruda.
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Track this story2026
7 updates
2026
7 updatesA new analysis of federal funding for RNA vaccine research reveals significant investment in areas including cancer and melanoma, indicating a growing focus on RNA technology for therapeutic applications beyond infectious diseases. The National Cancer Institute has awarded grants for solid tumors and melanoma, suggesting a potential for new treatments.
Moderna announced an update on their ongoing Phase 2 study, INTerpath-013, for V940 (mRNA-4157), an mRNA-based cancer vaccine. The vaccine is being tested in combination with Merck's Keytruda and standard chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for patients with metastatic squamous non-small cell lung cancer who have not received prior treatment.
New five-year follow-up data from the KEYNOTE-942/mRNA-4157-P201 study shows that patients treated with the personalized cancer vaccine intismeran autogene combined with Keytruda experienced a 49% lower risk of recurrence or death compared to those receiving Keytruda alone. These results demonstrate sustained protection and reinforce the promise of mRNA cancer vaccines.
Australia is launching the world-first PaedNEO-VAX clinical trial to treat children with advanced or treatment-resistant brain tumors using personalized mRNA vaccines, which will be customized based on each child's unique cancer markers.
via news.uq.edu.au
Newly formed French biotech Kahimmune Therapeutics has secured an exclusive license for a 'dark-genome' cancer vaccine platform, aiming to develop shared mRNA cancer vaccines initially for colorectal and pancreatic cancer.
Moderna provides an update on its ongoing Phase 3 clinical study for mRNA-4157 in non-small cell lung cancer, confirming the trial is actively recruiting patients. [5]
via mdanderson.org
Moderna and Merck announce 5-year follow-up data for mRNA-4157/V940, demonstrating sustained protection and a nearly 50% lower risk of recurrence or death in melanoma patients compared to standard therapies. [3, 17, 23]
via mdanderson.org
2025
2 updates
2025
2 updatesA personalized mRNA pancreatic cancer vaccine, autogene cevumeran, shows sustained immune activity in a Phase 1 trial, activating tumor-specific immune cells that persisted for up to nearly four years in some patients. [9]
via mdanderson.org
Russia announced its first mRNA-based cancer vaccine, which is expected to be available by early 2025 and aims to revolutionize cancer treatment by triggering an immune response against cancer cells.
via drvaccines.com
2024
2 updates
2024
2 updatesModerna presents 3-year follow-up data for mRNA-4157 (V940) in combination with Keytruda at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting, showing sustained improvement in melanoma patients. [2]
via mdanderson.org
NHS England launches its Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad, with the first patient in England receiving a personalized mRNA vaccine for bowel cancer as part of a clinical trial. [21]
via mdanderson.org
2023
3 updates
2023
3 updatesModerna and Merck initiate a pivotal Phase 3 study (V940-001) evaluating mRNA-4157 in combination with pembrolizumab for the adjuvant treatment of patients with resected high-risk stage IIB-IV melanoma. [16]
via mdanderson.org
The FDA has granted a breakthrough therapy designation to the investigational personalized mRNA cancer vaccine mRNA-4157/V940, when used in combination with pembrolizumab. This designation is for the adjuvant treatment of patients diagnosed with high-risk melanoma following complete resection. The decision was based on previously presented data.
via onclive.com
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) grants mRNA-4157/V940 Breakthrough Therapy designation, accelerating its development and review process. [16]
via mdanderson.org
2022
1 update
2022
1 updateModerna and Merck announce that their personalized mRNA cancer vaccine, mRNA-4157/V940, met its primary efficacy endpoint in a Phase 2b trial for melanoma, demonstrating a 44% reduction in the risk of recurrence or death when combined with Keytruda. [4, 7, 16]
via mdanderson.org
2021
1 update
2021
1 updateBioNTech doses the first patient in a Phase 2 trial for its personalized mRNA cancer vaccine (BNT122/autogene cevumeran) for high-risk colorectal cancer. [13]
via mdanderson.org
2020
1 update
2020
1 updateModerna announces interim data from a multi-cancer Phase 1 trial for mRNA-4157, indicating that the vaccine in combination with Keytruda is well-tolerated. [12]
via mdanderson.org
2019
1 update
2019
1 updateModerna and Merck jointly initiate clinical trials for mRNA-4157/V940 in combination with Merck's immunotherapy drug Keytruda (pembrolizumab) for resected stage IIIB-IV melanoma. [16]
via mdanderson.org
2018
1 update
2018
1 updateModerna and Merck announce a collaboration for the further development of the investigational personalized mRNA cancer vaccine, mRNA-4157/V940. [16]
via mdanderson.org
2017
1 update
2017
1 updateBioNTech publishes results from the first clinical trial for an mRNA-based individualized vaccine, demonstrating that all 13 melanoma patients in the study developed an immune response against their specific tumor antigens. [29]
via mdanderson.org
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