Moderna rises as cancer vaccine shows long-term benefit in melanoma study

Shares of vaccine maker Moderna MRNA.O rise 1.31% to$42.38 in early trading

Co says its experimental cancer vaccine, when used alongside Merck's MRK.N cancer drug, cut risk of deadly skin cancer returning or causing death by 49% over five years

Co's vaccine, called intismeran autogene, is tested with Merck’s Keytruda; melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer that can spread quickly if not treated early

"If Moderna can recreate this 49% risk reduction in the much larger phase 3 trial, that bodes well for not only commercialization in melanoma but also prospects for the combination in other indications, like kidney, bladder, and lung cancers," said Morningstar analyst Karen Andersen

Co says five-year data from the mid‑stage trial followed patients with high-risk stage III/IV melanoma after tumor‑removal surgery

More details will be presented at a medical meeting; eight other mid- and late-stage studies in lung, bladder, kidney cancers are ongoing - MRNA

As of last close, stock down ~29% over the past year