mRNA Finds a New Role in Personalised Cancer Care

Phase 2b melanoma data fuels interest in personalized mRNA vaccines, highlighting design agility while raising new questions about scale, cost, and broader efficacy

12 Dec 2025

Messenger RNA technology, which transformed vaccine development during the Covid-19 pandemic, is gaining traction as a new approach to cancer treatment, with early data suggesting it could support more personalised care.

The shift has been driven by recent phase 2b trial results in melanoma, showing that patients at high risk of relapse had better outcomes when a personalised mRNA cancer vaccine was combined with standard immunotherapy. The study reported a lower risk of recurrence, adding weight to the idea that tailored treatments could outperform traditional one-size-fits-all oncology drugs.

At the centre of the effort is a partnership between Moderna and Merck. The companies use sequencing of a patient’s tumour to design a bespoke vaccine intended to train the immune system to recognise and attack cancer cells. For large pharmaceutical groups used to developing therapies for broad populations, the approach represents a significant change in how drugs are designed and produced.

Speed, once a defining feature of mRNA vaccines, remains part of the appeal but is no longer the main selling point. While the technology allows rapid design, manufacturing an individualised cancer vaccine can still take several weeks after tumour analysis. As a result, the focus has shifted from instant production to more precise customisation. Merck has stressed that the vaccine is designed to complement existing immunotherapies rather than replace them, reflecting a cautious, incremental strategy.

The model also brings practical challenges beyond the clinic. Personalised manufacturing is harder to scale and could increase costs for healthcare systems already under financial pressure. Regulators are closely involved, with early signs that they may be open to viewing mRNA as a flexible platform rather than a single fixed product.

Doubts remain about how widely the approach can be applied. Melanoma is seen as a starting point, and success in other cancers is uncertain. Analysts have also warned that broad adoption could strain reimbursement frameworks and hospital logistics.

Even so, interest is building. Investors are monitoring progress, rivals are adjusting research priorities, and new partnerships are emerging around mRNA expertise. For patients, the promise lies in more targeted and potentially more effective treatment. For the pharmaceutical industry, personalised mRNA vaccines may point to a new phase in cancer drug development.