Vaccine breakthrough stops cancer returning in trial

A health worker fills a syringe with Ebola vaccine before injecting it to a patient, in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo A new personalised vaccine, given in combination with a drug, has prevented skin cancer from returning in patients during a trial, marking a potentially watershed moment in cancer treatment.

The vaccine, developed by drug companies Merck and Moderna, was given to patients with high-risk melanoma, a type of skin cancer, after they had surgery.

The vaccine, called Intismeran, was given in combination with Keytruda, an immunotherapy drug already used in cancer treatment.