International

Moderna, Merck see positive results from skin cancer vaccine

| By AFP |

The Moderna and Merck drug makers on Tuesday announced positive results from a trial in which messenger RNA technology was used for the first time to make personalized vaccines for skin cancer patients.

The mRNA technology proved vital in the development of vaccines against Covid-19, and scientists have long believed it could help fight other viruses and diseases like cancer.

In a preliminary trial, 150 people who had had their melanoma tumor surgically removed were given up to nine doses of the experimental vaccine alongside the skin cancer treatment Keytruda.

The study showed a 44 percent reduction in risk of death or relapse compared to patients who were only treated with Keytruda, an immunotherapy medicine.

20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

“Today’s results are highly encouraging for the field of cancer treatment,” Moderna’s Chief Executive Officer Stephane Bancel, said in a statement.

“mRNA has been transformative for COVID-19, and now, for the first time ever, we have demonstrated the potential for mRNA to have an impact on outcomes in a randomized clinical trial in melanoma.”

Moderna and Merck, known as MSD outside of North America, will soon publish the full results of the study, the results of which have not yet been peer-reviewed. The companies will also launch a Phase 3 trial in 2023, which involves a larger number of patients.

Messenger RNA is a molecule within cells that carries instructions to form proteins. Scientists can design them to make a particular protein in the body that can help fight viruses and other illnesses.

Moderna and drugmaker Pfizer-BioNTech were the first to use the technology to create the mRNA vaccines used to fight Covid-19.

20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

The melanoma vaccine is tailor-made to “prime the immune system so that a patient can generate a tailored antitumor response specific to their tumor mutation signature,” said Moderna’s statement.

Melanoma is the worst form of skin cancer, and nearly 325,000 new cases were diagnosed in 2020. Some 8,000 people are expected to die from melanoma in 2022, said the statement.

Moderna and Merck agreed in October to jointly develop the personalized skin cancer vaccine, for which they will share costs and profits.

Related Topics:Cáncer Merck Moderna Vaccine

Up Next

US inflation slows in November in smallest spike in year

Don't Miss

Maduro says Venezuela-Colombia border to completely reopen Jan. 1

20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_300x250

International

Mexican influencer “La Nicholette” kidnapped in exclusive area of Culiacán

The content creator known as “La Nicholette,” also referred to as “La Muchacha del Salado,” was kidnapped Tuesday afternoon in Isla Musalá, one of the most exclusive residential areas of Culiacán, capital of the northern Mexican state of Sinaloa, according to local media reports on Wednesday.

The abduction was captured by the security camera of the young woman’s vehicle, a lilac-colored Tesla Cybertruck, which was later found abandoned at the scene.

Video footage circulating on social media shows a masked man carrying a long firearm preventing the influencer from entering her vehicle, while another individual forces her into a white sedan, reportedly an older-model Toyota Corolla.

According to media reports, the incident occurred at approximately 5:00 p.m. local time (2300 GMT) at the intersection of Tachichilte Avenue and San Esteban Street, within the Musalá residential area.

Authorities have not yet released official details regarding the victim’s whereabouts or the motives behind the kidnapping.

20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

International

Major winter storm to blanket U.S. and Canada with snow, ice and arctic cold

A major winter storm — the strongest of the season so far — is threatening large areas of the United States and Canada, bringing heavy snowfall, ice accumulation and an Arctic cold wave expected to affect millions of people, particularly toward the end of the week.

“A large winter storm will produce heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain from the southern Rockies through the Plains and the south-central region beginning Friday, then move eastward toward the East Coast by Sunday,” the U.S. Weather Prediction Center (WPC) warned.

The storm is expected to begin with intense snowfall in Colorado on Friday and spread eastward, leaving a wide snow band across Texas, Kansas, Missouri and Tennessee, before reaching the East Coast and impacting major cities such as Washington, Boston and New York.

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), temperatures could drop below -10°C (14°F) even in parts of the southeastern United States. However, the most serious concern is the wind chill, as strong winds accompanying the storm could drive perceived temperatures down to below -45°C (-49°F) in some areas.

Forecasters warn that these well-below-average temperatures could persist through the end of January and into early February, particularly across the Ohio Valley and parts of the East Coast.

20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

Snow accumulations are expected to exceed 15 centimeters (six inches) in cities such as New York and Washington, raising concerns about travel disruptions, power outages and hazardous conditions.

International

Trump announces preliminary NATO agreement on Greenland, suspends tariffs on Europe

The President of the United States confirmed that the agreement will be beneficial for all members of the Atlantic Alliance and has halted the trade sanctions previously threatened against Europe.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday from Davos, Switzerland, a preliminary agreement with NATO regarding Greenland, describing it as “very good for the United States and all NATO countries.” He also confirmed the suspension of tariffs that his administration had warned it would impose on eight European countries starting February 1.

In a statement published on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the agreement followed a productive meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and establishes a framework for a future joint solution concerning Greenland and the Arctic region.

“This solution, if implemented, will be very beneficial to the United States of America and to all NATO countries,” the president stated, underscoring the strategic importance of the Danish autonomous territory, which has been at the center of heightened diplomatic tensions in recent weeks.

Trump added that the preliminary understanding also includes discussions related to the Golden Dome missile defense system, particularly in the context of Greenland. He noted that further details would be released as negotiations progress.

20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

As a result of the agreement, the administration suspended the tariffs it had previously announced against countries such as Germany, France and Denmark, which Trump had criticized for conducting military exercises on the Arctic island without prior coordination with Washington.

The president assigned Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoffto lead the negotiations, stating that he will receive direct updates on their progress.

The announcement marks a new chapter in U.S.-European tensions over Arctic geopolitics, particularly regarding Greenland, a territory Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in acquiring for global security and strategic defense reasons.