A major clinical trial tested a personalised mRNA cancer vaccine, Intismeran, given alongside the immunotherapy Keytruda in 1,137 adults with melanoma after surgery. About two-thirds received the vaccine plus Keytruda and the rest a placebo with Keytruda. After two years the combination cut the risk of death or cancer returning by 42% and reduced the risk of the cancer spreading by 38% compared with immunotherapy alone. The vaccine is tailored to each patient by sequencing their tumour so the immune system is trained to recognise specific cancer markers; MSD (Merck) and Moderna developed the approach and say similar trials are under way in kidney, bladder and lung cancers. A patient example cited remains cancer-free three years after treatment.
Independent experts called the findings an important proof of principle but urged caution until longer follow‑up and peer review clarify whether the approach improves overall survival for most patients. Results are due to be presented at the ESMO conference and companies are in talks with regulators that could lead to filings next year. Wider use would face logistical and cost challenges because every vaccine must be manufactured from an individual’s tumour profile. Investor reaction was mixed: shares initially rose on the news then fell after analysts compared these results with an earlier, smaller study.
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Investor-owned utilities charge an average of 17.8 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2025, which is 23% higher than public utilities. Prices for homes served by investor-owned utilities have increased 34% since 2020, outpacing inflation and raising monthly bills. (kadoa.com)
New evidence links far-right leader Bardella to antisemitic messages. The revelations raise concerns about his associations and rhetoric. (lemonde.fr)
Capitalists avoid taking on risk by shifting it onto workers, who bear the consequences of economic uncertainties. This dynamic allows capital owners to protect their assets while workers face the potential losses. (currentaffairs.org)
Jim Nielsen compares the religious-like dedication of nuclear war planners to AI researchers, highlighting their shared belief in a transformative future. He suggests that AI companies like Anthropic might forgo retirement benefits to show their confidence in a utopian future with universal high income. (blog.jim-nielsen.com)
Til Schünemann was laid off during a company restructuring and subsequently fell ill with symptoms triggered by a possible Covid infection. He was treated with cortisone, which quickly alleviated his symptoms but raised concerns about long-term side effects and his future health and life plans. (tilschuenemann.de)
A macroeconomics paper suggests taxing 'bad capitalism' through a land value tax combined with Universal Basic Income to address France's fiscal issues. The author argues that this approach could solve economic stagnation without hardship, but France needs to read the paper to implement it. (wilsoniumite.com)
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