Cancer vaccine reseach and development
A piece last month on Merck's interests in cancer vaccine research also proved a ratings winner.
Merck has exercised its option to jointly develop and commercialize a personalized cancer vaccine (PVC) with Moderna following 'significant progress' made by the two companies in the field to date.
The two companies entered into a strategic collaboration for novel mRNA-based PCV with Keytruda in 2016 with Merck paying Moderna $200m to lead research and development efforts through proof of concept.
Now, Merck is exercising its option to develop a vaccine, currently in Phase 2 trials in patients with high-risk melanoma, with Moderna through to commercialization for an additional $250m. The two companies will share costs and any profits equally under this worldwide collaboration.
Photo credit: GettyImages/Cindy Shebley
