Moderna's CEO Stephan Bancel comments on mRNA cancer vaccine
January 09, 2023 - Further to a televised interview on CNBC Moderna's CEO Stephane Bancel commented on the company's work on its mRNA cancer vaccine in collaboration with Merck (MSD) and the immune checkpoint inhibitor Keytruda.
Bancel indicated that the vaccine work is focused on the above I/O combinations' T-cell response and the 44% response rate seen in the treatment of melanoma.
Bancel specified with a degree of emphasis that Moderna is budgeting US$4.5 Billion this year towards this research, which is a significant level of R&D funding for this area of their business - and would suggest that Moderna and Merck are significantly committed to seeing this innovative I/O combination treatment approach come to market as-soon-as possible.
ONCY appears to have a significant leg-up on the activation of the T-cell response and the prevention of T-cell exhaustion by remodeling the TME and "priming" the innate and adaptive immune systems in advance of the sequential administration of immune checkpoint inhibition, for example. I would think that any ONCY acquirer such a Pfizer would want to seek an accelerated approval for pelareorep in combination with their CPI in an effort to gain a first to market advantage.