Moderna-Merck mRNA Cancer Vaccine Takes Center Stage at ESMO

By Healthcare Technology News · October 25, 2026

The European Society for Medical Oncology meeting in Madrid gave Moderna and Merck one of its most coveted slots, a 'presidential' presentation, for their personalized mRNA cancer vaccine used alongside Merck's blockbuster immunotherapy Keytruda, according to STAT News. The pairing is among the most anticipated programs in oncology because it tests whether mRNA technology, proven at scale during the pandemic, can be turned into tailored therapies that train the immune system to attack a patient's specific tumor.

The companies have been building toward larger, later-stage results after early signals suggested the combination could delay cancer recurrence. A strong showing would validate years of investment and reshape how drugmakers think about combining vaccines with existing checkpoint inhibitors.

Moderna and Merck were not the only draw. STAT News reports Amgen's Imdelltra also featured in Day 2 news, underscoring a meeting packed with late-stage data that oncologists, executives, and investors are watching for signals on where cancer treatment heads next.

iRhythm Uses Patient Data to Flag Arrhythmia Risk Earlier

iRhythm's Predictive Arrhythmia Solutions mines EHR and claims data to identify patients for earlier cardiac monitoring instead of waiting for symptoms.

Why it matters: Silent arrhythmias like atrial fibrillation often go undetected until they cause strokes, so using existing data to find at-risk patients earlier could prevent costly and dangerous events.

November 10, 2026

Health IT

AI Governance in Healthcare Doesn't Stop at Launch

Healthcare Dive argues that AI governance in healthcare is a continuous process of monitoring and accountability, not a one-time approval at launch.

Why it matters: AI models can degrade after deployment, so health systems need ongoing oversight to prevent patient harm and keep clinical tools trustworthy.

November 9, 2026

Health IT

Healthcare's Revenue Cycle Needs Orchestration, Not More AI

Providers have deployed AI across the revenue cycle, but only 4% have connected the tools, and orchestration is emerging as the fix.

Why it matters: Disconnected AI tools waste investment; orchestrating them is what actually reduces denials and speeds provider payments.