Moderna’s Commitment to Cancer Research
Today, on World Cancer Research Day, we recognize the critical importance and impact of cancer research. Research shows that nearly 40% of men and women will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lifetimes and that cancer is among the leading causes of death worldwide, underscoring the need for continued investment in research to improve treatments and care for patients and their families.¹ ²
Advancing Individual Neoantigen Therapy & Immuno-oncology
Cancer is a complex disease to treat. Each person’s cancer is different, driven by unique tumor mutations in each individual. The way cancer is treated is changing as a result. There may be more than a one-size-fits-all approach, as we now have the potential to customize treatment to the individual.
At Moderna, we’re committed to doing whatever it takes to accelerate progress in the oncology space. We are researching individual neoantigen therapies, which are an innovative approach that tailor treatment to each patient’s individual cancer. The goal is to design therapies that specifically match each patient’s cancer fingerprint.
We are also harnessing the power of our mRNA technology to the emerging field of immuno-oncology, also known as immunotherapy, pioneering a new way to fight cancer. By combining mRNA's power with technological advances, we hope to develop precise, personalized treatments that empower the body's immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells.
How can mRNA technology change cancer treatment?
mRNA technology not only enables us to personalize treatments but also to target common mechanisms cancer cells exploit, potentially benefiting a wider range of patients. The scalability of our mRNA platform allows us to accelerate pre-clinical research, bringing new discoveries into testable therapies faster, and ultimately delivering them to patients sooner. We are hopeful that the adaptability of mRNA technology can be leveraged to create an innovative and diverse portfolio of investigational cancer therapies that could potentially revolutionize cancer care and improve outcomes for patients.
Our Current Pipeline
Moderna is proud to have several cancer mRNA therapeutics in our pipeline, including several individualized neoantigen therapy (INT) trials in partnership with Merck, three of which are currently in Phase 3 trials and two of which are in Phase 2 trials. For the last seven years, Moderna and Merck have collaborated in a shared commitment to drive research forward for innovative modalities in earlier stages of cancer, where we can make the most meaningful impact for patients. Moderna currently has multiple other cancer therapies in development as treatment for adults with solid tumors and hematologic malignancies, as well as a rapidly expanding pipeline of oncology products..
At Moderna, we embrace the responsibility to explore mRNA’s full potential in treating cancer. We’ll continue to work tirelessly to develop transformative therapies to better the lives of patients around the globe.
¹https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/statistics
²https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/statistics#:~:text=Cancer%20is%20among%20the%20leading,related%20deaths%20to%2015.3%20million