Stephen Hoge, Moderna\u2019s president, was standing on stage. He sat down. Then, Hoge recalled in an interview with STAT, Bancel sat down, too.<\/p>\n
\u201cNone of us believed it,\u201d Hoge said. It had taken time before he remembers feeling, \u201cOh my gosh. This is real.\u201d<\/p>\n
The rest of the world remained skeptical until last Wednesday, when Moderna and Merck revealed<\/a> that a 1,137-volunteer study had shown the vaccine reduced the odds that melanoma that had been surgically removed would return or spread. Up to that point, investors were betting against Moderna\u2019s stock. Even after the news, some observers argue researchers should wait for fuller data \u2014\u00a0while longtime skeptics of Moderna\u2019s core mRNA technology do the same.<\/p>\n Top-line results from large pharmaceutical firms are rarely reversed when full data emerge, but doubt is nothing new for Moderna\u2019s cancer treatment, called intismeran autogene. It has always been the breakthrough no one quite believed in. <\/p>\n STAT+ Exclusive Story<\/p>\n Already have an account? Log in<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\tThis article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers Already have an account? Log in<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tIndividual plans<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tGroup plans<\/p>\n![\"STAT+\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/stat-plus-breaker-bg.png\")
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