The facts
The global, randomized, double-blind trial enrolled 1,137 patients with completely removed stage IIB–IV melanoma. Patients received intismeran plus pembrolizumab or placebo plus pembrolizumab in a 2:1 allocation. [1][2]
At median follow-up of 24.6 months, the primary intention-to-treat analysis reported a hazard ratio of 0.58, with a 95% confidence interval of 0.45–0.75 and p<0.001. [1][2]
Two-year recurrence-free survival was 82.2% with the combination and 70.0% in the comparison group. Overall-survival data remain immature. [2]
Grade 3–5 treatment-related adverse events occurred in 14.2% and 13.4% of the respective groups, Moderna reported. [1]
Principal investigator Georgina Long, of Melanoma Institute Australia and the University of Sydney, presented the study as ESMO abstract LBA1. The trial is registered as NCT05933577. [2][4]
Intismeran is designed from a patient’s tumour and remains investigational. These results concern treatment after melanoma surgery; they do not establish prevention in healthy people or efficacy against every cancer. [1][2][4]
Still unconfirmed
- A long-term overall-survival benefit, regulatory approval and routine availability remain unresolved.
Sources
References support the numbered facts above. Source checks: 29 Oct 2026, 00:15 UTC.
The sponsors say the study was accepted by the New England Journal of Medicine. The full journal paper and a DOI were not retrieved; the reported methods and results were checked against the sponsors’ detailed release, trial institution and AP’s independent reporting.
- INTerpath phase III results and study limitations
Moderna · Primary source
- Detailed INTerpath-001 results for ESMO 2026
Merck and Moderna, via Business Wire / MarketScreener · Primary source · 22 Oct 2026
- A novel mRNA cancer vaccine reduces melanoma recurrence
The Associated Press · Reporting · 22 Oct 2026
- Personalised therapeutic cancer vaccine trial
Melanoma Institute Australia · Primary source