Moderna and Merck Report Promising Results for Melanoma Cancer Vaccine
In a March 2023 off-site leadership meeting, Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel asked executives whether they expected the company’s experimental cancer vaccine to succeed. President Stephen Hoge later recalled none believed it. Skepticism persisted until Moderna and Merck disclosed last Wednesday’s 1,137-volunteer study results showing the vaccine reduced melanoma recurrence or spread, though some urge fuller data before drawing conclusions.