Moderna mRNA vaccine almost halves the risk of skin cancer returning Long-awaited results from phase III trial show huge benefits for treatment-resistant melanoma. By Mohana Basu

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-03417-0?utm_source=Live+Audience&utm_campaign=8cc2b96d1b-nature-briefing-daily-20261023&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-33f35e09ea-50432164 Vaccine cuts risk of skin cancer coming back A personalized mRNA vaccine has reduced the risk of skin cancer returning or the recipient dying by 42% when used alongside an immunotherapy drug. The vaccine, called intismeran, is designed to prevent tumours regrowing in people who’ve had surgery to remove them. A more than 40% risk reduction “would send many researchers over the Moon”, says geneticist Seth Cheetham. Researchers from US vaccine-developers Merck and Moderna were set to present the results at the European Society for Medical Oncology tomorrow, but announced them early after the data leaked online.