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World-first personalised mRNA jab cuts the risk of melanoma patients dying or their cancer returning by 42%

From the Newshound archive · first published 23 October 2026 · last updated 24 October 2026.

World-first personalised mRNA jab cuts the risk of melanoma patients dying or their cancer returning by 42%

Each jab is custom-built for an individual patient within weeks, drawing on DNA sequencing and AI analysis of a tumour removed during surgery. At the two-year mark, 82% of patients receiving Moderna's intismeran alongside MSD's Keytruda remained alive and free of melanoma, compared with 70% on Keytruda alone. The phase three trial enrolled 1,137 high-risk patients. Researchers are now extending the approach to kidney, bladder and lung cancer.

Melanoma kills about 2,600 people a year in the UK.

Professor Pippa Corrie of Addenbrooke's called it 'a whole new approach to cancer treatment'.

The vaccine is built on mRNA technology, the same platform that underpins the Covid jabs.

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