A major clinical trial has shown that a new personalised cancer vaccine, Intismeran, combined with the immunotherapy drug Keytruda, reduces the risk of melanoma returning or spreading by 42% and 38% respectively over two years compared to immunotherapy alone. The vaccine uses mRNA technology tailored to each patient's tumour to train the immune system to target cancer cells if they reappear. The trial involved 1,137 melanoma patients who had surgery to remove tumours, with about two-thirds receiving the vaccine alongside Keytruda.
Researchers and independent experts describe the results as a significant step towards personalised cancer treatment, though longer-term studies are needed to confirm if the vaccine improves overall survival. The vaccine is being tested for other cancers, and regulatory approval could be sought next year. Widespread NHS use will depend on cost and the ability to produce personalised vaccines for each patient.
Read the full story: BBC UK News.
Source: BBC UK News. Aggregated summary, not independent reporting.