A landmark new clinical trial, which will evaluate the world’s first personalised mRNA vaccine for melanoma, has launched at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH).
The phase 3 trial is investigating the combination of mRNA-4157 – otherwise known as V940 – and pembrolizumab, which is sold as Keytruda.
The combination treatment will be benchmarked against the current standard of care, which is pembrolizumab alone, for the treatment of the deadliest skin cancer – melanoma.
The treatment works by developing proteins that target other proteins found only on the cancer cells, which are identified via gene sequencing.
UCLH’s Heather Shaw, medical oncologist, is the person leading the trial.
“The idea behind this immunotherapy is that, by prompting the body to make these proteins, it can prepare the immune system to quickly identify and attack any cancer cells bearing them, with the aim of preventing recurrence of melanoma.”
The trial follows an earlier phase 2 study, which found the treatment could almost halve the risk of cancer recurrence or death after three years, compared to standard care alone.
The mRNA technology has been developed by Moderna and MSD, using learnings derived from Covid research.
Researchers are hoping the trial can confirm the findings of its predecessor. Globally, the study will recruit approximately 1,100 patients, including at several sites across the UK.
In the UK, melanoma is the fifth most common cancer, with around 8,400 new cases every year – there were nearly 325,000 new cases diagnosed worldwide in 2020.
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