COVID-19 Vaccine Technology 'mRNA' Also Proven Effective Against Cancer

by Jeong Hyunjin

Published 14 Dec.2022 08:47(KST)

Updated 14 Dec.2022 08:57(KST)

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[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] Clinical results have shown that the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccine technology, commercialized during the COVID-19 pandemic, is also effective against cancer.

According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and others, on the 13th (local time), the U.S. pharmaceutical company Moderna announced that in a Phase 2 clinical trial involving about 150 skin cancer patients, the combined use of a specially customized mRNA vaccine and Merck & Company (MSD)'s cancer treatment reduced cancer recurrence or death by up to 44%.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

Unlike traditional vaccines that directly inject viral proteins into the body, mRNA vaccines teach cells to produce proteins or methods that induce immune responses, prompting antibody formation when exposed to specific viruses.

mRNA vaccines began commercialization during the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, Moderna and Pfizer are the only companies producing and distributing COVID-19 vaccines based on mRNA technology worldwide.

The mRNA vaccine designed to prevent cancer recurrence is produced differently from the COVID-19 vaccine. It selects mutations from the patient's cancer cells that elicit a strong immune response, then encodes this genetic information into mRNA to create a personalized vaccine.

The subjects of this trial were about 150 patients who had undergone surgery for melanoma, a type of skin cancer. They received nine doses of the mRNA vaccine over a year alongside Merck's cancer drug Keytruda, showing apparent effectiveness, according to foreign media. Moderna plans to publish the clinical trial results in a medical journal after review by researchers and will proceed to Phase 3 trials based on the Phase 2 results.

Stefan Bancel, CEO of Moderna, said, "The clinical trial results are very robust, reminiscent of the success during the development of the COVID-19 vaccine," adding, "We will not waste any time." He also stated, "I believe this effect will be seen not only in melanoma but also in many other types of cancer."