‘Bespoke’ mRNA vaccine significantly reduces risk of melanoma recurrence or death, clinical trial shows

Medical director of the Melanoma Institute Australia, Prof Georgina Long, says the research will allow scientists to harness our immune systems in more personalised ways. Photograph: Tim Bauer

A personalised mRNA-based melanoma vaccine significantly reduces the risk of cancer recurrence or death within two years, new clinical trial results show.

The vaccine, intismeran, is custom-made to target genetic mutations unique to an individual’s melanoma. It is the first individualised cancer vaccine to show positive results in a phase III clinical trial.