Merck and Moderna Report That Experimental Personalized mRNA Melanoma Vaccine Cuts Recurrence by 42%

Summary

Merck and Moderna have released detailed top-line results for an experimental personalized mRNA vaccine to treat melanoma, a skin cancer, after previously reporting that the trial succeeded. Ars Technica reports that the companies say the vaccine cut death and recurrence by 42%. TIME reports the same 42% reduction in melanoma recurrence and notes that the treatment is still experimental. The New York Times reports that the vaccine reduces the risk of the cancer returning, and Scientific American reports that the vaccine helps prevent recurrence and death according to the new results. This report is based on article headlines and summaries only.

Timeline

1. Ars Technica

   22 Oct 2026, 22:12 UTCSource ↗

   Ars Technica reports that Moderna and Merck say their personalized mRNA cancer vaccine cut death and recurrence by 42%, releasing top-line results after previously reporting that the trial succeeded.

2. The New York Times

   22 Oct 2026, 22:48 UTCSource ↗

   The New York Times reports that Merck and Moderna released detailed results on an experimental vaccine to treat melanoma, and that the vaccine cuts the risk of the cancer recurring.

3. Scientific American

   22 Oct 2026, 22:55 UTCSource ↗

   Scientific American reports that the Moderna-Merck mRNA cancer vaccine helps prevent cancer recurrence and death, according to the new results.

4. TIME

   22 Oct 2026, 23:54 UTCSource ↗

   TIME reports that a personalized cancer vaccine from Moderna and Merck lowers melanoma recurrence by 42%, and that the treatment is still experimental.