An experimental vaccine against melanoma – the most aggressive skin cancer – in partnership between Moderna and MSD Brasil, showed promising results and will enter phase 3 of studies in 2023.
The therapy combines mRNA technology, the same technology used in vaccines against Covid-19, with immunotherapy drugs to combat disease recurrence in patients.
“Melanoma is the most aggressive type of cancer, the one that kills the most in the world and the most frequent skin cancer”, said the medical director of MSD Brazil Marcia Abadi.
In an interview with CNN Radio she explained how the “personalized” vaccine works.
“The fact that it is personalized is innovative because it acquires the mutations that cause the disease in that person from the patient’s own cancer,” he said.
From this, antigens are made, with messenger RNA technology, and “the vaccine is injected into the same patient.”
“The association of this with immunotherapy enhances the chance of our immune system attacking cancer cells”, he added.
The specialist reinforces that the unprecedented treatment is not to prevent the disease, but “to prevent it from returning in patients who already have cancer.”
The study has been in progress for 6 years, according to Marcia Abadi, and is moving towards the personalization of each type of cancer on a large scale.
Phase 3 of the studies, which expands the number of volunteers and tests efficacy and safety, will begin in 2023.
The expectation is that this stage lasts from 1 to 2 years to achieve the results.
At the same time, the medical director warned that melanoma is a preventable and preventable type of cancer, with the use of sunscreen and avoiding exposure to the sun.
*Produced by Isabel Campos
Source: CNN Brasil
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