Health Friday 8.28.2026 Open Thread: mRNA-4157 / V940, Also Known As Intismeran, by Team Merck and Moderna

The free image of a vintage laboratory for today’s offering header is courtesy of stockcake and Google Images.

Health Friday is a series devoted to information about Big Pharma, vaccines, general health, and associated topics. There are Important Notifications from our host, Wolf Moon; the Rules of our late, good Wheatie; and, certain caveats from Yours Truly, of which readers should be aware. They are linked here. Note: AI-generated items in today’s offering will be cited as such. If readers wish to post AI-generated items in today’s discussion thread, they must cite their source. Thank you. Special Note regarding today’s offering: it is long. There are exhibits. Yours Truly is taking a blowtorch to the entire situation regarding mRNA-4157 (Intismeran) + KEYTRUDA©. Thank you.

The general summary: Moderna’s “on-demand cancer vaccine”, mRNA-4157, takes the concept of modRNA to a new, and potentially dangerous, level. There are no published results for the most-recent clinical trial for this “vaccine”, NCT05933577; Moderna states it will release the “topline results” of this study “at a medical meeting.” The results of the previous clinical trial for mRNA-4157, NCT03897881, were not “stellar”, to say the least. The 2020 Patent for mRNA-4157, WO2020097291, discussed below, states that this “cancer vaccine” is apparently to be primarily used as a preventative measure in healthy persons, with the “option” to also use it for a treatment of diagnosed cancer in persons. mRNA-4157 is formulated using potentially multiple types of lipid nanoparticles. mRNA-4157 is formulated using potentially multiple types of uracil RNA destroyers, chief among them, the N1-methylpseudouridine already in use in the company’s COVID-19 bioweapon “vaccines.” Moderna has partnered with Merck, Sharp and Dohme, in the development and clinical trials for mRNA-4157. These two companies have a 50/50 partnership agreement in place. Moderna has also borrowed $1.5 Billion dollars from Ares Capital Corporation for more funding.

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Merck, Sharp and Dohme has teamed up with Moderna to lab-create a new type of modRNA-based “vaccine”; this one, they claim, based on blood samples taken from the patient himself/herself. The result is a “combination” of modRNA created, so it is claimed, from blood samples taken from patients with melanoma, a skin cancer that can be fatal; and into which samples certain other elements are mixed. The resulting product is called Intismeran Autogene (also called Intismeran.) This product is used in conjuction with an already-approved drug used in cancer treatment, called KEYTRUDA©. The patient is injected with Intismeran “cancer vaccine” mixture, while at the same time, undergoing treatment with KEYTRUDA© (with the patient having begun with KEYTRUDA© before the Intismeran is added; then, both are used.)

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Yours Truly begins here, with the Merck announcement of the Phase 3 clinical trial “positive topline results” for Intismeran + KEYTRUDA© (NCT05933577: https://www.merck.com/news/merck-and-moderna-announce-phase-3-interpath-001-trial-of-intismeran-autogene-plus-keytruda-met-endpoints-of-recurrence-free-survival-rfs-and-distant-metastasis-free-survival-dmfs-in-patient/, “Merck and Moderna Announce Phase 3 INTerpath-001 Trial of Intismeran Autogene Plus KEYTRUDA© Met Endpoints of Recurrence-Free Survival (RFS) and Distant Metastasis-Free Survival (DMFS) in Patients With Completely Resected Stage IIB – IV Melanoma”, 19 August 2026. Please see the screenshots from this article, below. Note: For purposes of today’s offering, Yours Truly will use the terms KEYTRUDA©, pembrolizumab, and pembro interchangeably, as all three terms describe the same drug. Similarly, mRNA-4157 and Intismeran will be used interchangeably. Also, Yours Truly is not in any way, dismissing or minimizing the use of pembrolizumab alone in treating cancer; this drug has worked well for many patients. What Yours Truly is interested in is what appears to be the use of pembrolizumab as an “adjunct”, so to speak, to mRNA-4157.

However, no results have been published for Phase 3 of NCT0593577 — more on that below. Here is the announcement by Moderna, covered in BioPharmaDive: https://www.biopharmadive.com/news/moderna-merck-cancer-vaccine-landmark-result-melanoma/828238/, “Moderna and Merck cancer vaccine returns ‘landmark’ result in melanoma”, Jonathan Gardner, 19 August 2026. Please see the screenshot, below:

So, Team Merck and Moderna have no plans to release these “topline results” of NCT05933577 to the general public — but, instead, “intend” to release these “topline results” at a “medical meeting.” How “interesting.”

Which is followed by this, courtesy of our good TradeBait2, from Just The News: https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/science-press-release-moderna-cashes-mrna-cancer-vaccine-while-hiding-trial, “Science by press release: Moderna cashes in on mRNA cancer vaccine without publishing trial results”, Greg Piper, 23 August 2026.

Is Team Merck and Moderna hiding something about the “landmark result” of the Phase 3 clinical trial of mRNA-4157 (Intismeran) + KEYTRUDA©? Is it, perhaps, because this “landmark result” is really NO BETTER than those of the PREVIOUS clinical trial for this “cancer vaccine combo treatment”, NCT03897881? The truth is: the results of NCT03897881 are, so to speak, “less than landmark.” Please see: https://cancertherapyadvisor.com/reports/adding-intismeran-pembrolizumab-survival-melanoma/, “Adding Intismeran to Pembolizumab Boosts Survival in Advanced Resected Melanoma”, Liam Andrew Davenport, MA (Hons), 25 June 2026. This article reports on the 2026 annual meeting ot ASCO (American Society of Clinical Oncology.) The presenter of the results for NCT03897881 was Matteo S. Carlino, MBBS, PhD. Below are several screenshots: two from the meeting report; then, one of the Results section of the paper on NCT03897881 that was written by Dr. Carlino:

Look at what Dr. Carlino states: non-significant improvement in the study subjects who were taking mRNA-4157 + pembro; and, more risk of Grade 3 or higher adverse events in study subjects who were taking mRNA-4157 + pembro. Grade 3 adverse events “are serious” and interfere with the person’s ability to do normal activities such as, eating (https://dipg.org/treatment/clinical-trials/side-effects/, “Side Effects in Clinical Trials.”)

Look at the Results section above: less than 50% RFS risk reduction for mRNA-4157 + pembro compared to pembro use alone; SEVEN study patients died after taking the mRNA-4157 + pembro, and SEVEN patients died after taking pembro alone: in other words, no reduction of risk of death from the mRNA-4157 + pembro “conbo drug treatment.” The website for NCT03897881 are here: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03897881. In the “Reseacher View” details of this clinical trial, the only results are those in the two scientific papers that are cited; there is nothing in the “Results Posted” section on the clinical trial “Overview” webpage.

BUT, despite this set of results for NCT03897881, the FDA granted “breakthrough therapy designation” for the mRNA-4157 + pembrolizumab “combo cancer vaccine treatment”: https://www.onclive.com/view/fda-grants-breakthrough-therapy-designation-to-mrna-4157-v940-plus-pembrolizumab-in-high-risk-melanoma, Chris Ryan, 23 February 2023. Not a bad “return on investment” for Moderna on this one — even though the results of the NCT03897881 clinical trial appear to be “less than stellar.” A perfect example, in Yours Truly’s opinion, of how Big Pharma controls the FDA.

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Yours Truly now turns to a major “source document” for mRNA-4157: the Patent for this “cancer vaccine”, found here: https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/WO2020097291, “RNA Cancer Vaccines”, publication date 14 May 2020; the Applicant is: ModernaTX, Inc., 200 Technology Square, Cambridge MA 02139. The following exhibits are from the Patent document; summaries are by Yours Truly. To begin: first, the Publication page; then, second, a portion of the Status Report page:

From the Summary of Invention, page 2: first, lines 5 – 11; then, lines 22 – 29. Notice that the “invention” is intended to stimulate the body to produce cancer proteins or parts thereof. This appears to be the “autogene” part of the “invention.” Notice also that the “invention” is to be administered multiple times to the patient. Notice also that mRNA-4157 can contain one or more mRNAs, each with one or more ORFs (Open Reading Frames):

Page 4, lines 20 – 28: the Patent’s inventors waste no time in making sure that N1-methylpseudouridine, among other uracil (RNA) destroyers (“modifiers”) can be used in mRNA-4157:

**** Page 5, lines 15 – 17: the basic mechanism of mRNA-4157 — to “provoke” a “memory immune response” in the patient’s body. Shades of the “immune memory response” that is supposedly “taught” to the body of the person who takes Moderna’s COVID-19 bioweapon “vaccines” SPIKEVAX or mNEXSPIKE, perhaps?:

**** Page 5, lines 25 – 27: It appears that either cancer tumor DNA, or blood sample DNA, from the patient, can be used to lab-generate the peptide epitopes in mRNA-4157:

Page 6, lines 21 – 22: the “checkpoint inhibitor” in the “cancer vaccine” treatment is KEYTRUDA© (pembrolizumab.)

**** Page 17, lines 20 – 24: mutations; look at the mention of frameshifting. A tacit admission that mRNA-4157, as do the modRNA COVID-19 bioweapon “vaccines”, induce frameshifting in the body:

Page 31, lines 25 – 31: Depending on the ORF (Open Reading Frame) used, the treatment with mRNA-4157 can go on for up to 5 years:

There is extensive mention in the Patent of the use of N1-methylpseudouridine to completely replace (“uniformly modify” or “fully modify” are the terms used in the Patent) the uracil RNA of Uridine in the patient’s body. Example: please see Page 42, lines 8 – 14.

**** Methods of Treatment section: Page 67, lines 5 – 14: It appears that, in reality, mRNA-4157 is to be used as PROPHYLACTIC PROTECTION from cancer. Look at the language, “It may be reasonable” to use the “vaccine” ALSO as a treatment for a person who already has cancer. Also — Page 68, lines 30 – 31, and Page 69, lines 1 – 6: the mRNA-4157 “cancer vaccine” can ALSO be used in HEALTHY PERSONS as a “primer” and/or as a “booster shot”:

**** Page 70, lines 28 – 31, through Page 71, lines 1 – 14: the list of cancers that the Patent claims can be treated by mRNA-4157. This list includes dozens of types of cancer. The list from Page 71 is below:

Page 82 through Page 90: Discussion and description of the “Formula (1)”, aka “Compound 1” (which appears to be at least one of the mRNA-4157 “formulas” that is being used in the clinical trials); discussion and description of “Formula 1A”; discussion and description of “Formula II.”

Page 91, lines 9 – 11: What looks like the chemical schema of the lipid nanoparticle SM-102 being used in the “Compound 1” of mRNA-4157:

Which looks suspiciously like CAS# 2089251-47-6, “SM-102” available from Broadpharm (https://broadpharm.com/search?search_query=2089251-47-6):

Or, that Moderna modified the “backbone” of the SM-102 lipid nanoparticle that is used in the company’s COVID-19 modRNA bioweapon “vaccines” for use in mRNA-4157.

**** Page 105: Phase 1 clinical trial for mRNA-4157 + pembro, “Combination arm” results. “Compound 1” (“C1” — see above in the Patent presentation) was used. Table 6, included on Page 105, indicates that, of the 20 advanced metatastic / advanced cancer patients in the study, 8 then presented with Progressive Disease. This appears to mean an almost 50% risk of presenting with progressive cancer while taking mRNA-4157 + pembro. The results of this 2019 Phase 1 clinical trial (https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03739931) are summarized here: https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JGO.2019.5.suppli.93. From the Abstract of this paper, the Results section, which equates to the Table 6 on Page 105 of the Patent:

**** Team Merck and Moderna KNOW that mRNA-4157 CAN SHED. Please see: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/03739931, the “Researcher View”; scroll down to the subsection “Exclusion Criteria”. BOTH male and female study subjects in this Phase 1 clinical trial had to agree TO USE BIRTH CONTROL:

The above is not an exhaustive analysis of the cited Patent for mRNA-4157. In fact, there are multiple other Patents listed for mRNA-4157, per Page 30 of the above cited Patent. What the exhibits and summaries of the above cited Patent do indicate, however, are:

That Moderna is using the “framework” of their COVID-19 modRNA bioweapon “vaccines” to move on to the next step: the lab-creation of “on-demand” cancer treatment “vaccines” that would be tailored to the individual patient, and lab-created from various types of samples from the patient;

That Moderna is potentially including MULTIPLE TYPES of lipid nanoparticles in the potential “compositions” of the “cancer vaccines” that the company is using mRNA-4157 as the “template” for;

That Moderna is taking the concept of “modRNA” to a different — and, in Yours Truly’s opinion, a potentially dangerous level, absent YEARS of intense research and clinical trials — “modRNA” that is lab-created using an “automated one-demand” process from the cells of an individual person (blood; tumor; urine; sweat; saliva, etc.);

That Moderna is making the claim that a “cancer treatment vaccine” lab-created from the patient’s own DNA can be, almost literally, be produced “on the spot” for near-real time, “instant’ treatment use; and has built an entire “automated facility” to produce this “vaccine”;

That it appears Moderna intends for mRNA-4157 to be used in healthy persons as a PREVENTATIVE “vaccine” for cancer, in addition to the product being used to treat persons who ALREADY HAVE cancer; and,

That Moderna appears to be using persons who already have cancer as “human lab rats” to see if mRNA-4157 has any real benefit as a cancer treatment;

That Moderna may be using these “human lab rats” in mRNA-4157 clinical trials as “proof” of “If cancer can be cured with a modRNA “vaccine”, and cancer being something that people never want to have: then, taking mRNA-4157 as a cancer preventative can erase cancer from humankind.”

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Yours Truly now turns to another type of “source document” regarding mRNA-4157 (Intismeran): the Moderna SEC filing of 31 December 2025 (Securities and Exchange Commission document.) The SEC filing is found here: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/degar/data/1682852/000168285226000033/mrna-20251231.htm.

Page 10: the “surface properties” regarding the lipid nanoparticle (LNP) platform systems.

**** Page 19: the mRNA-4157 “Intismeran autogene” targets the CD4 and CD8 cells of the body (shades of the attack on the CD4 and CD8 cells that occurs from the modRNA COVID-19 bioweapon “vaccines.”) Also: Moderna will share 50% with Merck regarding the costs, profits and losses worldwide for mRNA-4157. Please see the screenshot, below, from Page 19 of the SEC filing:

Page 22: Moderna has built an entire “dedicated” facility in Marlborough, MA, devoted solely for the lab-creation and processing of mRNA-4157.

**** Page 26, section THIRD-PARTY STRATEGIC ALLIANCES: Merck has paid Moderna a total of $450 million in research and development costs for mRNA-4157. This is pursuant to a third-party strategic alliance agreement that was signed by Moderna and Merck in January 2015, for the development, approval, and marketing of “cancer vaccines.” (Recall that Moderna also has a STILL-EXISTING third-party strategic alliance agreement with NIAID regarding the development, approval, and marketing of mSPIKEVAX and mNEXSPIKE. Moderna is paying royalty payments for NIAID for every dose of these “vaccines.” This particular third-party strategic alliance agreement began in 2015, with Moderna and NIAID agreeing to co-develop and co-own the Patent for mRNA-1273. This is discussed in the SEC filing of 31 December 2025, on Page 31) Please see the screenshot below, regarding mRNA-4157 and Merck:

**** Page 43 et seq., Item 1A. Risk Factors section of the Moderna SEC filing of 31 December 2025: the following, from Page 44: “The commercial success of our products depends on the degree of market acceptance by physicians, patients, third-party payors and others in the medical community.” From Page 46: “If we cannot obtain, or are delayed in obtaining, regulatory approvals and advisory committee recommendations, we will be unable to effectively commercialize, or be delayed in commercializing, our product candidates.” In Yours Truly’s opinion, Moderna is stating that its products are “successful” if they have “market acceptance”; and, that Moderna needs to have swift regulatory approval of its products to get them on the market as soon as possible.

**** Page 144, Exhibit 10.7 (title hyperlinked): Moderna borrowed $1.5 Billion dollars from Ares Capital Corporation on 19 November 2025. The lender(s), of course, will be looking for a “full return” of the loan. Please see below:

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Yours Truly turns to one more aspect of modRNA “vaccines”: the potential that they will shed onto other people. This phenomenon is likely, as most vaccines can shed, at least for a limited time; however, in the case of the modRNA “vaccines” (and this now includes modRNA “cancer vaccines”, such as mRNA-4157), the potential for “vaccine” shedding is ALSO brought to a new, and possibly very dangerous, level. If a modRNA COVIF-19 bioweapon “vaccine” can shed, what about the potential for an “individualized cancer vaccine” to ALSO shed? For more information regarding COVID-19 “vaccine” shedding, please see: https://www.thefocalpoints.com/p/inadvertent-exposure-to-pharmacologically, “Inadvertent Exposure to Pharmacologically Designed Lipid Nanoparticles Via Bodily Tissues: Biologic Plausibility and Potential Consequences”, Peter A. McCullough, MD, MPH, 3 March 2024. The three types of exposure are: “vaccine” biodistribution within the body of the “vaccinated” person; Two, via “secondary exposure” (skin-to-skin contact, sexual intercourse, bodily fluids, etc.); and, Three, via contaminated blood in blood transfusions. The paper referred to in the McCullough article, of the same title as his article, is here: https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202402.1267.v1, T.J. Halma, Jessica Rose, Peter A. McCullough; 22 February 2024.

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Gentle reader, does one see how the game is played by Moderna? In November 2015, Moderna and NIAID signed a CONFIDENTIAL DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT regarding development of injectable drugs. NIAID (NIH) would pay Moderna as part of this “collaborative” agreement. Amendment No. 5, of April 2019, is the first mention of mRNA technology being co-developed by Moderna and NIAID; Amendment No. 6, of February 2020, extends this “collaboration.” In addition to these, Moderna and NIAID signed a COOPERATIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT (“CRADA”) in August 2016. The above documents are found here: https://www.documentcloud.org/doceuments/6935295-NIH-Moderna-Condifential-Agreements/.

So, Step One is in place: Moderna and the US government agree to co-develop, co-own, and share royalty payments for certain vaccines, including mRNA-based bioweapon “vaccines.” Step Two: between April 2019 and November 2020, the “collaborators” work on the lab-creation of mRNA-1273. Step Three: the COVID-19 disaster begins, late fall of 2019. Step Four: the FDA grants the initial EUA for mRNA-1273 on 11 December 2020. Step Four: millions of Americans are gaslighted, coerced, or “mandated” to take COVID-19 bioweapon “vaccines” — such as, mRNA-1273 and its “descendant clone vaccines.” Step Five: hundreds of types of serious adverse reactions and adverse effects begin to present. These adverse effects include cancer.

Meanwhile, Moderna and Merck, in January 2016, sign an agreement to “collaborate” on the lab-creation of an modRNA-based “cancer vaccine”, (which would eventually be called mRNA-4157 (Intismeran)), and get this injectable to the clinical trials stage. Moderna and Merck agree to share 50 / 50 the costs, profits, and losses regarding this “cancer vaccine.” The Patent for mRNA-4157, described above, specifically states that mRNA-4157 is to be used as a preventative for cancer, with the “option” for it to also be used as a cancer treatment (with another cancer drug as an “adjunct”; in the case of mRNA-4175, it is pembrolizumab.) Moderna has several “bases” covered at the same time: create a “vaccine” that can (and does) induce cancer in the body; then treat that cancer with another modRNA-based “vaccine” (mRNA-4157) that is coupled with pembrolizumab; while, at the same time, keeping mRNA-4157 “under wraps”, so to speak, in the Patent for this “cancer vaccine”, for future use as a preventative for cancer.

Moderna is already moving along in the mRNA-4157 trajectory. There are two other clinical trials using this “cancer vaccine”: NCT06307431, for persons with renal cell carcinoma; and, NCT06961006, for persons with advanced melanoma. The clinical trials cited in today’s offering were / are sponsored either by Moderna or by Merck.

Peace, Good Energy, Respect: PAVACA1

(Intellectual Property Disclaimer and Notice: Except for the linked URLs and other items above that are available on the Internet, the ideas and/or opinions in today’s offering are by PAVACA1 (M.E. Forbes, aka M.E.C. Forbes.) Credit must be given to PAVACA1 if ideas and/or opinions from today’s offering are used by other blog writers; by podcasters; or in print or social media.)