Moderna has dosed the first U.S. participant in a Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating mRNA-4200, an investigational mRNA-based cancer therapy for patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors.

 

The experimental therapy is designed to target seven tumor antigens commonly shared across multiple cancer types. By encoding these shared antigens, mRNA-4200 aims to stimulate and expand T-cell responses against selected tumor targets. The study will evaluate the therapy in combination with checkpoint inhibitor treatment.

 

"mRNA-4200 represents our third off-the-shelf cancer antigen therapy candidate and builds on our efforts to explore broad applicability across multiple cancer types," said David Berman, Chief Development Officer of Moderna. 

 

"By encoding multiple shared tumor targets, this investigational therapy reflects our ongoing efforts to expand the potential of cancer immunotherapy beyond single-target approaches as we continue working to transform cancer care for patients."

 

The first patient was dosed by William McKean, Clinical Investigator at START Mountain Region in Salt Lake City, Utah, part of The START Center for Cancer Research, a community-based early-phase oncology research network.

 

"The first patient dosed in a study represents far more than an operational milestone--it marks the beginning of evaluating a new therapeutic approach that has the potential to impact patients with advanced cancer," said Dr. McKean. 

 

"We are proud to continue our collaboration with Moderna and to support the clinical development of mRNA-4200 by providing patients with early access to promising investigational treatments while generating the clinical evidence needed to advance cancer research."

 

The Phase 1 trial is an open-label, multicenter, dose-escalation study designed to assess the safety and tolerability of mRNA-4200 in combination with checkpoint inhibitor therapy in adults with advanced solid tumors.