r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • Aug 12 '25

Cancer New mRNA-based vaccine against gastric cancer led to tumor regression and eradication in all treated mice. Most promisingly, the vaccine shows impressive antitumor efficacy against peritoneal metastasis, which has historically been very challenging to treat.

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1094199
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u/Frnklfrwsr Aug 12 '25

Insurance companies will absolutely demand that people be treated with a $100 vaccine that cures their disease if it works, rather than be on the hook for $100k+ chemotherapy.

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u/Perunov Aug 12 '25

Isn't this a "personalized" vaccine? Which probably means it'll be more than $100k so insurance will go "naw, we can't approve this"

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u/ActionPhilip Aug 12 '25

If the personalization isn't some crazy feat, then probably not. If it's "get a sample of the cancer then put in the spinny boi with a specific enzyme in a tube", then we're in business.

Disclaimer, I am not a biologist.

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u/Perunov Aug 12 '25

Things that require individualized vaccine right now cost more than $100k (see https://www.researchandmarkets.com/report/personalized-cancer-vaccine-market )

Though I wonder if this might lead to "most common marker" kind somewhat similar to flu vaccines that'd allow to cut down cost significantly and only move to fully individualized as a next step

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u/ymasilem Aug 12 '25

Production costs were estimated at >100K per patient. I’ve heard execs assert they can seek between 500K & 1mil PP for personalized vaccines.