Shares of both MerckMRK and its partner ModernaMRNA jumped to a 52-week high yesterday after the companies announced positive top-line data from a phase III study, which evaluated their personalized cancer therapy combo in certain patients with high-risk melanoma, a serious form of skin cancer.
The phase III INTerpath-001 study evaluated Moderna’s investigational mRNA-based individualized neoantigen therapy (“INT”), intismeran autogene (mRNA-4157 or V940), in combination with Merck’s blockbuster PD-L1 inhibitor, Keytruda (pembrolizumab), as an adjuvant treatment for patients with completely resected stage IIB-IV melanoma.
The INTerpath-001 study met its primary endpoint of recurrence-free survival (“RFS”) and key secondary endpoint of distant metastasis-free survival (“DMFS”).
The companies noted that this is the first combination regimen to show statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in both RFS and DMFS versus Keytruda alone, a standard-of-care immunotherapy in the adjuvant melanoma setting.
The safety profile of the combination therapy was similar to that seen in previously reported studies, with no new safety concerns observed. The study will continue to assess additional secondary endpoints, including overall survival.
Shares of Merck were up 12.6% while Moderna stock jumped a staggering 177% yesterday following the announcement of the news.
MRK & MRNA Price Performance
Year to date, shares of Merck have rallied 46.7%, while Moderna stock has skyrocketed 491.3% compared with the industry’s increase of 21.3%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
More on MRK & MRNA’s Personalized Cancer Therapy
Intismeran autogene is an experimental, personalized mRNA-based cancer therapy that is designed using the unique genetic mutations found in a patient’s tumor and can target up to 34 tumor-specific antigens.
Merck and Moderna plan to present detailed data from the INTerpath-001 study at an upcoming international medical conference and engage with regulatory authorities regarding a potential filing seeking approval for intismeran in combination with Keytruda for the given indication.
The latest results build on positive phase IIb data from the KEYNOTE-942/mRNA-4157-P201 study. Five-year follow-up data presented at the 2026 ASCO annual meeting showed that the combination reduced the risk of recurrence or death by 49% and the risk of distant metastasis or death by 59% versus Keytruda alone.
Merck and Moderna are evaluating intismeran across the broader INTerpath clinical development program, which currently includes nine phase II and phase III studies across melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, bladder cancer and renal cell carcinoma. The program is evaluating intismeran in combination with Keytruda and other anticancer therapies, as well as a monotherapy.
Our Take on the Results
The latest positive phase III readout from the INTerpath-001 study marks an important milestone for both companies as they seek to advance personalized mRNA-based cancer treatment for long-term growth. For Merck, intismeran could strengthen Keytruda’s lifecycle and broaden its reach across other cancer indications, while Moderna could establish oncology as a key growth driver beyond vaccines. The broader INTerpath program offers additional upside across multiple tumor types.
MRK & MRNA Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider
Both Merck and Moderna currently carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
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