6 Intismeran Autogene (V940) Clinical Trials Recruiting Now (June 2026): Personalized Neoantigen mRNA Cancer Vaccine, INTerpath-002 Adjuvant NSCLC, Moderna + Merck
Last updated: June 13, 2026
📌 What's new at ASCO 2026: The Moderna + Merck personalized neoantigen mRNA cancer vaccine
V940 (intismeran autogene) moves the story from the 2023 Phase 2b KEYNOTE-942 adjuvant melanoma signal into multiple Phase 3 trials — most prominently
INTerpath-002 (
NCT06077760, Phase 3, recruiting): adjuvant V940 + pembrolizumab vs pembrolizumab alone in completely resected Stage II, IIIA, or IIIB (N2) non-small cell lung cancer. See the
ASCO 2026 wrap-up takeaway #7 for the patient-facing context.
About Intismeran Autogene (V940)
Drug profile:
Intismeran autogene (development codes V940 and mRNA-4157) is an investigational personalized neoantigen mRNA cancer vaccine co-developed by Moderna (mRNA platform) and Merck (combination partner via pembrolizumab / KEYTRUDA). There is no brand name yet — intismeran autogene remains investigational and has no FDA approvals as of June 2026.
Mechanism of action:
V940 is not a one-size-fits-all vaccine. Each patient receives a custom-manufactured mRNA encoding approximately 34 neoantigens specific to their own resected tumor. The workflow: (1) the patient's tumor is sequenced after surgical resection, (2) computational pipelines predict which mutated peptides (neoantigens) are most likely to be presented by that patient's HLA molecules to T cells, (3) a bespoke mRNA encoding approximately 34 of those neoantigens is manufactured for that specific patient, (4) the mRNA is delivered via lipid-nanoparticle injection. In clinical trials V940 is almost always combined with pembrolizumab: the vaccine is designed to prime tumor-specific T cells, and pembrolizumab releases the PD-1 brake so those T cells can attack residual microscopic disease. This is fundamentally different from earlier cancer vaccines that targeted "shared" tumor antigens (NY-ESO-1, MAGE) common across many patients.
Regulatory status:
- FDA approvals: none. Intismeran autogene is investigational.
- FDA designations: Breakthrough Therapy Designation in adjuvant resected high-risk Stage III-IV melanoma, granted on the strength of the 2023 Phase 2b KEYNOTE-942 / mRNA-4157-P201 readout (adjuvant V940 + pembrolizumab vs pembrolizumab alone — substantial recurrence-free survival benefit).
- Phase 3 status: three Phase 3 trials are recruiting, all in NSCLC: INTerpath-002 (NCT06077760, adjuvant Stage II-IIIB resected), INTerpath-009 (NCT06623422, adjuvant resectable Stage II-IIIB patients who did not achieve pCR after neoadjuvant pembrolizumab + chemo), and INTerpath-014 (NCT07513376, adjuvant high-risk Stage I resected with subcutaneous pembrolizumab coformulation). The confirmatory Phase 3 in adjuvant resected melanoma (INTerpath-001) is the lead readout the program is widely expected to deliver, but that specific trial is not in the ClinTrialFinder corpus — likely because it is not actively recruiting.
- Anticipated first approval: the resected melanoma adjuvant indication remains the lead candidate; first approval timing depends on the INTerpath-001 confirmatory Phase 3 readout and is anticipated 2026–2027 (sponsor guidance).
Active Research Directions in 2026
- Adjuvant resected NSCLC (the new Phase 3 frontier) — three Phase 3 trials now cover three slices of the resected NSCLC population: INTerpath-002 (Stage II-IIIB, adjuvant after complete resection), INTerpath-009 (Stage II-IIIB resectable patients who did NOT achieve pCR after neoadjuvant pembrolizumab + platinum doublet — a particularly high-risk residual-disease population), and INTerpath-014 (high-risk Stage I, with a subcutaneous pembrolizumab coformulation arm). These three together aim to test the personalized-vaccine adjuvant hypothesis across the spectrum of resected NSCLC.
- First-line advanced melanoma (Phase 2) — INTerpath-012 (NCT06961006) extends V940 from the adjuvant setting (KEYNOTE-942) into advanced / unresectable / metastatic 1L melanoma in combination with pembrolizumab. Important nuance: unlike the adjuvant setting (where the vaccine is made from the resected tumor), the advanced-disease setting must use sequencing from a biopsy of the metastatic lesion.
- First-line metastatic squamous NSCLC (Phase 2) — INTerpath-013 (NCT07221474) adds V940 on top of standard 1L pembrolizumab + chemotherapy in metastatic squamous NSCLC, a population that does not currently have ADC or targeted-therapy alternatives.
- High-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) + BCG (Phase 2) — INTerpath-011 (NCT06833073) tests V940 + BCG vs BCG alone in high-risk NMIBC. This is the only V940 trial without pembrolizumab as the combination partner — instead pairing the personalized vaccine with intravesical BCG (the standard immunologic therapy in NMIBC).
- Other resected solid tumors (future) — Moderna and Merck have publicly described plans for INTerpath programs across additional resected tumor types (renal cell carcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, others). Those programs are not in the recruiting corpus as of June 2026; we will add them when they open.
Trials by Setting
Phase 3 Adjuvant Resected NSCLC (3 recruiting)
- NCT06077760 — INTerpath-002 / V940-002 (Phase 3; Recruiting): Adjuvant V940 (intismeran autogene) + pembrolizumab vs placebo + pembrolizumab in participants with completely resected Stage II, IIIA, or IIIB (N2) non-small cell lung cancer. Randomized, double-blind, placebo- and active-comparator-controlled. This is the lead Phase 3 in NSCLC and the trial referenced in the ASCO 2026 wrap-up (Takeaway #7). Lead sponsors: Moderna + Merck.
- NCT06623422 — INTerpath-009 / V940-009 (Phase 3; Recruiting): Adjuvant pembrolizumab with or without V940 in participants with resectable Stage II to IIIB (N2) NSCLC who did NOT achieve a pathologic complete response (pCR) after receiving neoadjuvant pembrolizumab + platinum-based doublet chemotherapy. Randomized, double-blind. Targets the highest-risk subset of perioperative-pembrolizumab patients — those with residual disease at surgery. Lead sponsors: Moderna + Merck.
- NCT07513376 — INTerpath-014 / V940-014 (Phase 3; Recruiting): Adjuvant intismeran autogene with or without subcutaneous pembrolizumab coformulated with berahyaluronidase alfa (MK-3475A) vs placebo in participants with completely resected high-risk Stage I NSCLC. Also includes an intismeran monotherapy arm. Lead sponsors: Moderna + Merck.
Phase 2 Advanced Melanoma (1 recruiting)
- NCT06961006 — INTerpath-012 / V940-012 (Phase 2; Recruiting): V940 (mRNA-4157) + pembrolizumab vs placebo + pembrolizumab as first-line treatment for advanced (unresectable / metastatic) melanoma. Randomized, double-blind, placebo- and active-comparator-controlled. Extends the personalized-vaccine + PD-1 hypothesis from the adjuvant resected setting (KEYNOTE-942) into the advanced-disease 1L setting. Lead sponsors: Moderna + Merck.
Phase 2 Metastatic Squamous NSCLC (1 recruiting)
- NCT07221474 — INTerpath-013 / V940-013 (Phase 2; Recruiting): V940 + pembrolizumab + chemotherapy vs placebo + pembrolizumab + chemotherapy as first-line treatment for metastatic squamous NSCLC. Randomized, double-blind. Tests whether adding the personalized vaccine on top of the current 1L standard improves outcomes in a population with limited ADC / targeted alternatives. Lead sponsors: Moderna + Merck.
Phase 2 High-Risk Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (1 recruiting)
- NCT06833073 — INTerpath-011 / V940-011 (Phase 2; Recruiting): V940 in combination with BCG vs BCG monotherapy in participants with high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (including carcinoma in situ). Open-label, randomized. The only V940 trial in our corpus without pembrolizumab as the combination partner — here the immunologic combination is V940 + intravesical BCG. Lead sponsors: Moderna + Merck.
Showing the V940 / intismeran autogene trials in the ClinTrialFinder corpus as of June 2026. The Phase 2b KEYNOTE-942 (mRNA-4157-P201) adjuvant melanoma trial — the source of the 2023 RFS signal and FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation — and the confirmatory Phase 3 INTerpath-001 adjuvant resected melanoma trial are not in the corpus because they are not currently recruiting. View the latest intismeran search on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Trials Not Yet Recruiting
No V940 trials are listed as "Not yet recruiting" in our corpus as of June 13, 2026. All six trials above are actively recruiting. New INTerpath programs (planned for additional resected solid tumors per sponsor announcements) will be added when they open enrollment.
Patient Selection and Practical Considerations
Eligibility for V940 trials is driven by surgical and disease-stage criteria rather than a specific biomarker like KRAS or HER2:
- Resected tumor tissue available — for the adjuvant NSCLC trials (INTerpath-002, -009, -014), the vaccine is manufactured from the patient's own resected tumor. Sufficient tumor tissue from the surgical specimen is required for sequencing and neoantigen prediction. This is a logistical constraint, not a biomarker test.
- Stage and disease setting matter — INTerpath-002 enrolls Stage II, IIIA, IIIB (N2) NSCLC after complete resection; INTerpath-009 specifically enrolls Stage II-IIIB resectable patients who did NOT achieve pCR after neoadjuvant pembrolizumab + platinum doublet; INTerpath-014 enrolls high-risk Stage I after complete resection. The advanced melanoma trial (INTerpath-012) enrolls 1L unresectable/metastatic melanoma; the metastatic squamous NSCLC trial (INTerpath-013) enrolls 1L metastatic squamous NSCLC.
- Manufacturing timeline — because the vaccine is custom-made for each patient, there is a manufacturing window (typically several weeks) between surgery / biopsy and the start of vaccine dosing. Trial protocols define how adjuvant chemotherapy and pembrolizumab are sequenced during that window; pembrolizumab is generally started first while the vaccine is being made.
- HLA typing — the neoantigen prediction pipeline uses each patient's HLA type to choose which mutated peptides are most likely to be presented to T cells. HLA typing is part of the screening process.
- Site participation is the bigger gate than eligibility — because personalized mRNA manufacturing requires tumor shipping, sequencing, and a centralized manufacturing facility, only a subset of cancer centers participate. Geographic access is often the binding constraint. Ask your oncologist whether your treating center is an INTerpath site or whether you would need to travel.
Side Effects and Practical Considerations
Safety data to date are largely from the Phase 2b KEYNOTE-942 melanoma trial (V940 + pembrolizumab vs pembrolizumab alone, adjuvant resected high-risk Stage III-IV melanoma). The Phase 3 INTerpath program is still accumulating safety data.
- Local injection-site reactions — the most common V940-attributed adverse event. Generally Grade 1-2, self-limited, similar to other intramuscular mRNA vaccines.
- Flu-like reactogenicity — chills, fever, headache, myalgias, fatigue — the typical mRNA-vaccine pattern, usually within 24-48 hours of dosing. Generally Grade 1-2, manageable with supportive care.
- Fatigue — common with V940 alone and amplified by the pembrolizumab combination.
- Pembrolizumab-class immune-related adverse events (when combined with pembrolizumab) — thyroid dysfunction, pneumonitis, colitis, hepatitis, skin rash, rare endocrinopathies (hypophysitis, type 1 diabetes), and rare cardiac, renal, or neurologic immune events. Managed with the standard PD-1 inhibitor irAE algorithm.
- BCG-class events (in the INTerpath-011 bladder trial) — urinary frequency, dysuria, cystitis, hematuria from intravesical BCG instillation; rare systemic BCG reactions.
- Long-term safety — still being characterized. The Phase 3 INTerpath program will provide the definitive safety profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is intismeran autogene (V940 / mRNA-4157)?
Intismeran autogene (development codes V940 and mRNA-4157) is an investigational personalized neoantigen mRNA cancer vaccine co-developed by Moderna and Merck. It is NOT a one-size-fits-all vaccine: each patient receives a custom-manufactured mRNA encoding approximately 34 neoantigens specific to their own resected tumor. Tumor tissue is sequenced after surgery, neoantigens most likely to be presented by that patient's HLA molecules are predicted computationally, and a personalized mRNA is then manufactured. The vaccine is almost always combined with pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA). The lead clinical signal came from the Phase 2b KEYNOTE-942 / mRNA-4157-P201 trial in adjuvant resected high-risk Stage III-IV melanoma (substantial RFS benefit reported in 2023, FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation). Intismeran autogene remains investigational and has no FDA approvals as of June 2026.
What cancers and trial settings is V940 being tested in?
Six V940 trials are recruiting in our corpus. Three Phase 3 in NSCLC: INTerpath-002 (NCT06077760, adjuvant V940 + pembrolizumab in resected Stage II-IIIB NSCLC); INTerpath-009 (NCT06623422, adjuvant pembrolizumab ± V940 in Stage II-IIIB patients who did NOT achieve pCR after neoadjuvant pembro + chemo); INTerpath-014 (NCT07513376, adjuvant V940 ± subcutaneous pembrolizumab coformulation in resected high-risk Stage I NSCLC). Three Phase 2: INTerpath-012 (NCT06961006, V940 + pembrolizumab in 1L advanced melanoma); INTerpath-013 (NCT07221474, V940 + pembrolizumab + chemo in 1L metastatic squamous NSCLC); INTerpath-011 (NCT06833073, V940 + BCG in high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer). KEYNOTE-942 and INTerpath-001 adjuvant resected melanoma trials are not in the current corpus because they are not actively recruiting.
How is V940 different from a flu vaccine or other cancer vaccines?
A flu vaccine is one-size-fits-all: every recipient gets the same antigens. V940 is the opposite — it is fully personalized. After surgical resection, the patient's own tumor is sequenced, and computational pipelines predict which neoantigens (mutated peptides unique to that tumor) are most likely to be presented by the patient's HLA molecules to T cells. A bespoke mRNA encoding approximately 34 of those neoantigens is then manufactured for that specific patient — no two patients receive the same vaccine. This is also different from earlier cancer vaccines targeting "shared" tumor antigens (NY-ESO-1, MAGE) common across many patients. V940 is co-developed by Moderna (mRNA platform) and Merck (which contributes pembrolizumab). The biological hypothesis: V940 primes tumor-specific T cells, and pembrolizumab releases the PD-1 brake so those T cells can attack residual microscopic disease after surgery.
What are the main side effects of V940?
From the Phase 2b KEYNOTE-942 melanoma trial (the most extensively reported safety dataset to date), the most common V940-attributed events have been local injection-site reactions, fatigue, and flu-like symptoms (chills, fever, headache, myalgias) — the typical mRNA-vaccine pattern. Most events were Grade 1-2 and self-limited. When combined with pembrolizumab, patients also face the standard PD-1 inhibitor immune-related adverse event profile: thyroid dysfunction, pneumonitis, colitis, hepatitis, skin reactions, rare endocrinopathies. The Phase 3 INTerpath program is still accumulating safety data. Patients should expect close monitoring for both vaccine-reactogenicity events and pembrolizumab-class immune-related events.
Find V940 (Intismeran Autogene) and Personalized Cancer Vaccine Trials Matched to Your Situation
Use ClinTrialFinder's AI-powered matching to find V940 (intismeran autogene) trials and other personalized cancer vaccine studies based on your specific cancer, stage, surgical status, and prior treatments.
Find Matching Trials
This page is for information only and is not medical advice. ClinTrialFinder helps you find clinical trials that may match your situation, but enrollment decisions and treatment choices should always be made with your oncologist or healthcare team. Trial eligibility, recruitment status, and treatment details can change — verify directly with the trial sponsor or on ClinicalTrials.gov before acting on any information here.