Shares of CSPC Pharma (01093) jumped over 15% in morning trading, driven by the positive top-line results from the Phase III INTerpath-001 trial of Moderna's personalized mRNA cancer therapy, intismeran, in combination with Keytruda, for stage IIB to IV melanoma, according to a research note from CLSA.

This marks the first time an individualized mRNA cancer therapy has achieved a positive signal in a Phase III clinical trial. The therapy, developed in collaboration with Merck, works by using tumor sequencing to create a custom mRNA that encodes up to 34 neoantigens, aiming to amplify tumor-specific T-cell immunity when paired with PD-1 inhibitors.

CLSA noted that CSPC Pharma is one of the most technologically advanced mRNA vaccine developers in China, with its platform validated by the approval of the country's first COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, "Duentai," in 2023. The company's leading therapeutic vaccine candidate is SYS6017, an HPV mRNA therapeutic vaccine targeting HPV 16/18-related high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, while other earlier-stage therapeutic cancer vaccines are in preclinical development.