The last few years have been marked by the evolution in vaccine coverage technologies around the world, with the vaccine against Covid-19 as a pioneer in this movement. Now, another vaccine appears to be very close. That's because the Moderna laboratory got authorization to accelerate vaccine tests against skin cancer.
Vaccine is more effective than drugs
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In December 2022, Moderna published a study showing that the use of the skin cancer vaccine managed to reduce the risk of the disease returning after surgery by 44%. This percentage is even compared to the most common medicine in the treatment of the disease. Therefore, the vaccine is much more effective than what we have available today.
Thus, it was possible to obtain authorization from the Food and Drug Administration, FDA, which is the regulatory agency in the United States equivalent to our Anvisa. It is worth mentioning that this authorization comes with a special FDA classification for experimental drugs that are more effective than those currently available.
In this way, scientists will be able to proceed with the application of new tests and leave for phase 3 of vaccine experimentation later this year. Furthermore, the lab's goal is to begin experimenting with tests on other types of cancer after completing this study. For example, non-small cell lung cancer tests are already being considered.
More details about the skin cancer vaccine
The technology that Moderna uses for the prevention of skin cancer is the same used in vaccines against Covid-19, which is mRNA. In addition, the scientists combine this method with the drug Keytruda, from Merck, which is precisely the drug available on the market against this type of cancer.
In this case, the vaccine will provide the immune system with what scientists call the keys to the signature of the tumor's DNA. So, the expectation is that the T cells will be able to fight the return of the cancer in an eventual reappearance of the tumors. In addition, Keytruda is reinforced in the fight against possible existing cancer cells.
