STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about a cancer vaccine, an experimental pancreatic cancer drug, and more — SkimNews
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- Merck and Moderna announced that a personalized mRNA cancer vaccine reduced the risk of melanoma recurrence by 42% in a large clinical trial, with details presented at a European oncology conference.
- An oncology news website broke the conference embargo on Thursday by publishing some of the trial data ahead of the scheduled presentation.
- A U.S. judge granted a request by PhRMA and three drugmakers to intervene in a lawsuit over the 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program, reversing a previous decision.
- The trade group and companies—AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Boehringer Ingelheim—will now join a legal battle to block a program allowing rebates instead of upfront discounts for 340B-purchased medicines, set to start Jan. 1.
Why it matters: The 42% reduction in melanoma recurrence is a major clinical milestone for mRNA technology, potentially expanding to other cancers. Separately, the drugmakers' legal win directly impacts the $40 billion 340B program, giving the industry a voice in a fight over billions in drug discounts for hospitals.
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