Dr Gareth Rivalland: oncologist on the research and trials carried out into melanoma vaccine

 

There's a new treatment aimed at reducing melanoma, and it's seeing positive developments.

An mRNA-based melanoma vaccine has been shown to reduce the risk of death or cancer coming back among patients by 42 percent.

The vaccine has undergone a phase III trial, led by experts in Australia and New Zealand.

Kiwi oncologist Dr Gareth Rivalland led the New Zealand part of the research, and he says this is the first treatment that's added to existing immunotherapy methods - with a significant jump in benefits. 

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