Key points from article :
The first successful phase-IIb randomised trial of personalized cancer vaccine using the same RNA technology as Covid jabs.
Experimental vaccine, made by Moderna and MSD, is designed to prime the immune system to destroy cancerous cells.
Other pharmaceutical companies are looking to run similar studies.
Patients on Keytruda for advanced melanoma were less likely to die; reoccurrence was low if also vaccinated with mRNA-4157/V940.
Findings in 157 patients have not yet been scrutinised by independent experts or regulators.
More trials will be needed to check the effectiveness of treatment.
"A 44% relative reduction in the risk of dying of cancer or having your cancer progress," - Moderna's chief medical officer Paul Burton.
Tailormade to match each patient's cancer, the vaccine is very expensive to make.
"Results show the feasibility of making and delivering personalised vaccines to treat cancer, and that the vaccine can add benefit to current treatments," - Alan Melcher from The Institute of Cancer Research.
