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Merck Decides to Exercise Option Regarding PCV With Moderna

October 13, 2022

Merck has decided to exercise its option to develop and commercialize the personalized cancer vaccine (PCV) mRNA-4157/V940 with Moderna.

The two companies had inked a collaboration and licensing deal in 2016 to develop and commercialize novel personalized messenger RNA (mRNA) cancer vaccines. This deal was also expanded in 2018 to include shared antigen mRNA cancer vaccines.

The mRNA-4157/V940 vaccine candidate is being evaluated in combination with Merck’s blockbuster drug Keytruda (pembrolizumab) as adjuvant treatment for patients with high-risk melanoma in a phase 2 clinical trial. Moderna is conducting the clinical trial.

Under the terms of the agreement, Merck will pay Moderna $250 million to exercise its option for personalized cancer vaccines including mRNA-4157/V940.

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