What GPs need to know about the new melanoma mRNA vaccine

A new mRNA vaccine for advanced melanoma is generating significant interest, but what does it actually mean for patients?

In the latest episode of Life by a Thousand Cuts, A/Prof Tony Dicker examines the recent trial of Moderna’s personalised mRNA vaccine, intismeran, in combination with pembrolizumab. He explains how the treatment is designed around the individual mutations in a patient’s melanoma, the early evidence for improved recurrence-free survival, and some of the practical challenges involved in producing a personalised vaccine.

For GPs, the key distinction is that this is not a vaccine to prevent melanoma. Rather, it is an emerging treatment approach for patients who already have advanced melanoma, and one that patients may increasingly ask about as more results receive media attention.

Tune into the episode for a concise overview of the science, the current evidence, and what GPs should know when discussing this developing area with patients.

Listen to the podcast

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Podcast playlist

Listen to all episodes in the Life by a Thousand Cuts series.

Life by a Thousand Cuts

This podcast series is designed to help you enhance your clinical decision-making, procedural skills, and confidence in skin cancer management. Focus on real-world cases, surgical techniques and tips, journal article reviews, diagnostic and management insights, and guest interviews with GPs and specialists.

This podcast is also available on the HealthCert YouTube channel. 

About A/Prof Tony Dicker

Associate Professor (Skin Cancer) & Course Coordinator MMed (Skin Cancer), The University of Queensland

Tony Dicker has practised full-time Skin Cancer Medicine in Melbourne since 2004, and previously practised in Brisbane. He obtained his PhD from The University of Queensland in molecular biology of skin cancer with Professor Ian Frazer's group at Princess Alexandra Hospital. He then spent three years as a dermatology registrar at the Royal Brisbane and Princess Alexandra Hospitals.

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