Oncologists Cheer Melanoma Data

AI Summary

Leaked results from a Moderna and Merck melanoma vaccine trial drew praise from oncologists, while the companies' stocks fell as investors reacted differently. The findings surfaced ahead of a planned presentation at the European Society for Medical Oncology meeting in Madrid.

Leaked data from Moderna and Merck's highly anticipated melanoma vaccine trial has led to a rare disconnect between doctors, who celebrated the result, and Wall Street, which sold off the stocks. Normally results of such pivotal drug studies are binary, with doctors, patients and investors all learning whether a novel medicine will make a meaningful difference in people’s lives and forming the same conclusion. Instead, as reports leaked out on social media about the findings of the melanoma shot — days before the carefully scripted presentation planned for thousands of oncologists gathered in Madrid for the European Society for Medical Oncology meeting — realities diverged.  Madison Muller, Bloomberg News Healthcare Reporter, reports. (Source: Bloomberg)