1. Personalized mRNA vaccine plus Keytruda lowers melanoma recurrence risk in Phase 3 trial (See lead article.)
A custom-built mRNA therapy cut the risk of melanoma recurrence or death by 42% after surgery, though survival data are not yet significant.
In the INTerpath-001 trial of 1,137 patients with resected stage IIB–IV melanoma, intismeran autogene plus pembrolizumab produced a recurrence-free survival hazard ratio of 0.58 versus pembrolizumab alone, with two-year RFS of 82.2% vs. 70.0% [1]. Full data presented at ESMO on Oct. 24 showed an overall survival HR of 0.77 that did not reach significance [2]. Moderna shares fell nearly 25% after the topline leaked, as some investors had expected a larger effect [3].
2. Amgen's Imdelltra plus Imfinzi cuts risk of death by 58% in first-line extensive-stage small cell lung cancer
Adding tarlatamab to durvalumab maintenance extended median survival from 12.7 to 21.1 months in a Phase 3 trial.
The randomized, open-label DeLLphi-305 trial enrolled 563 patients whose extensive-stage small cell lung cancer had not progressed after initial chemo-immunotherapy; the overall survival HR was 0.42 (95% CI, 0.32–0.54; P<0.001) [4]. Grade 3 or higher treatment-related adverse events occurred in 20.9% vs. 10.8% of patients, and cytokine release syndrome occurred in 49.6%, almost all grade 1 or 2 [4]. The data were presented at ESMO on Oct. 24 and published simultaneously in The New England Journal of Medicine, according to Fierce Pharma, which quoted Amgen's chief medical officer calling it a "watershed moment" [5]. The trial is Amgen-sponsored, with partial funding from AstraZeneca [4].
3. U.S. measles cases reach 4,588 in 2026, about double last year's total
CDC data show 4,588 confirmed cases across 47 jurisdictions this year, with three deaths reported.
As of Oct. 22, CDC counted 4,588 confirmed measles cases in 2026, compared with 2,289 for all of 2025; 96% of this year's cases are linked to outbreaks, and 43 new outbreaks have been reported [6]. CDC lists three measles deaths so far this year and notes that kindergarten MMR coverage has fallen from 95.2% in 2019–2020 to 92.4% in 2025–2026 [6]. The agency says two MMR doses are 97% effective against measles [6].
4. DOJ charges 15 in alleged $2 billion Los Angeles health care fraud schemes
Federal prosecutors allege sham addiction treatment, unnecessary vascular procedures and hospice fraud billed to Medicare, Medi-Cal and private insurers.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California announced charges against 15 defendants, including six medical professionals, in schemes it alleges produced $2 billion in fraudulent claims [7]. Prosecutors allege more than $1.6 billion was billed to private insurers for sham substance abuse treatment, $134 million to Medicare for unnecessary atherectomies (artery-clearing procedures) and more than $138 million to Medicare in hospice schemes [7]. The charges are allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty; the release notes that one defendant has pleaded guilty and includes no statements from defendants [7].
Digest references
Merck & Co. and Moderna. "Merck and Moderna Will Present Results From Landmark Phase 3 INTerpath-001 Trial for Intismeran Autogene Plus KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) at ESMO 2026 Presidential Symposium." Press release, October 22, 2026. Link
Cancer Network Staff. "INTerpath-001 Data Detail Survival, Subgroup, and Safety Findings in Melanoma." CancerNetwork, October 24, 2026. Link
Gardner J. "Moderna, Merck shares fall on eagerly anticipated cancer vaccine results." BioPharma Dive, October 22, 2026. Link
Amgen. "IMDELLTRA in Combination With IMFINZI Reduced Risk of Death by an Unprecedented 58% in First-Line Extensive Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer." Press release, October 24, 2026. Link
Liu A. "ESMO: Amgen's Imdelltra drives massive survival benefit in 'watershed moment' for small cell lung cancer." Fierce Pharma, October 24, 2026. Link
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Measles Cases and Outbreaks." CDC, updated October 23, 2026. Link
U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California. "L.A. Health Care Fraud Takedown Results in 15 Defendants Charged, Including Six Medical Professionals, with $2 Billion in Losses Alleged." Press release, October 22, 2026. Link
