Merck and Moderna Cancer Vaccine Breakthrough Built on Keytruda Success
For Merck and Moderna, a cancer vaccine breakthrough was built over more than 10 years. After a 2016 partnership to develop intismeran autogene, Merck’s Keytruda success with checkpoint inhibitors helped shape the effort. The mRNA vaccine trains the immune system to target dozens of mutations unique to each patient, aiming to overcome prior vaccine failures.