MonTa Biosciences

19/08/2026

Great news for cancer vaccines and immunotherapy, and certainly for melanoma patients

Phase 3 results from the INTerpath-001 study show that personalised mRNA vaccines called Intismeran from Moderna, combined with pembrolizumab, reduced the risk of disease coming back or death in patients with stage IIB–IV melanoma if given after surgery.

At M***a Biosciences, we see this as another important step forward in harnessing the immune system to improve cancer treatment.
This is actually the first phase III study to show a clear significant effect of cancer vaccines.

***aBiosciences

14/08/2026

Start walking with STEP-TEMBER, and continue for the rest of your life 🙏🚶‍♀️🚶

Are you looking for new ways to support us?

Why not take on our Step‑tember challenge and move for Melanoma this September. Whether you walk, run, dance, or simply get your steps in wherever you can, every movement helps raise awareness and supports families affected by melanoma.

Choose the challenge that feels right for you:
✨ 10,000 steps per day
✨ 15,000 steps per day
✨ 100,000 steps across the month

You can join in anywhere — at home, at work, in school corridors, out in nature, or even while dancing in your kitchen. Step‑tember is all about showing up, moving your body, and standing together for a cause that touches so many lives.

If you’re ready to make a difference, we’d love to have you with us.
Sign up here:
https://melanoma-me.org.uk/melanoma-me-events

11/08/2026

🚶 As STEP-TEMBER is approaching this is very relevant - What if one of the most effective tools we have to support the fight against cancer isn’t found in a pill — but in a good pair of walking shoes?

New research, including findings from the clinical CHALLENGE trial, adds to growing evidence that regular exercise may do more than improve fitness. It may also help reduce the risk of cancer returning.

In a large study of 889 patients with colon cancer, those who followed a structured exercise program after chemotherapy had a significantly lower risk of cancer recurrence compared with patients who received general health information alone.

Researchers are still working to understand exactly why exercise may help, but possible mechanisms include:

✅ Improved metabolism
✅ Stronger immune function
✅ Reduced chronic inflammation
✅ Better muscle and cardiovascular health
✅ Changes in how tumors access energy

Exercise is not a cure for cancer and should never replace recommended treatment. But as part of cancer care, physical activity is increasingly being recognized as an important way to support health — and potentially improve outcomes for some patients.

Every step counts. 💙

CHALLENGE study: https://www.nejm.org/do/10.1056/NEJMdo008039/full/

10/08/2026

Can our diet change the gut microbiome and tell how melanoma patients will respond to immunotherapy ?

Two studies in Nature Medicine and Science reported that response to immune-checkpoint therapy was associated with distinct gut microbiome patterns. In particular, responders were more likely to have microbiomes enriched in the bacteria type called Ruminococcaceae and Faecalibacterium.

The studies also linked diet with these outcomes:

Melanoma Patients with a higher intake of fiber and omega 3 fatty acids in their diet were associated with a higher response rate to immunotherapy. Moreover, the intake of omega 3 fatty acids was also associated with fewer side effects seen after immunotherapy treatment.

These findings are important, but they show associations rather than bullet proof evidence that changing diet or taking supplements will improve treatment outcomes of melanoma patients during treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Prospective clinical trials are needed to determine whether modifying diet or the microbiome can benefit patients with melanoma.
See the links in the comments below for more info on the clinical study.

09/08/2026

#4 and #5 What can the gut microbiome and dietary omega 3 intake tell us about melanoma immunotherapy response ?

Two studies in Nature Medicine and Science reported that response to immune-checkpoint therapy was associated with distinct gut microbiome patterns.

The studies linked diet with these outcomes:

🐟 Omega-3s and cancer immunotherapy

In melanoma patients stage III/IV treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors, higher dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids was associated with a better response to immunotherapy.

Conversely, patients with poorer treatment responses tended to have lower omega-3 intake.

An intriguing link between diet, the gut microbiome and the immune system’s ability to fight cancer — though importantly, this was an association and does not prove that omega-3 itself caused the improved treatment response.

In a later post we will explore how your diet may be able to change the gut microbiome composition to the benefit of Ruminococcaceae dominance and lower the Bacteroidaceae content.

Prospective clinical trials are needed to determine whether modifying diet or the microbiome can benefit patients with melanoma.
This is of particular interest to M***a Biosciences as we are currently treating melanoma patients in our phase IB clinical trial.
See links to the clinical studies in the comments below.
This is not medical advice, talk with your oncologist if you are a patient that consider diet changes.

08/08/2026

#3 What can the gut microbiome tell us about melanoma immunotherapy?

Follow this daily series to understand how our gut bacteria are associated with response to immunotherapy in melanoma patients.

Two studies in Nature Medicine and Science reported that response to immunotherapy was associated with distinct gut microbiome patterns. In particular, responders were more likely to have microbiomes enriched in the bacteria type called Ruminococcaceae and Faecalibacterium.

The studies also linked diet with these outcomes:

• Ruminococcaceae-dominated microbiomes were associated with a 74% response rate of melanoma patients to immunotherapy, compared with 54% response rate in melanoma patients dominated by Bacteroidaceae bacteria.

Learn over the next days #4 and #5 how the bacterial gut composition correlated with fiber intake and omega 3 fatty acids.

This is of particular interest to M***a Biosciences as we are currently treating melanoma patients in our phase IB clinical trial.

07/08/2026

Good news for melanoma patients

A new immunotherapy has received FDA approval for advanced melanoma after previous immunotherapy treatment is no longer active.

It is another exciting milestone in cancer research and highlights the growing potential of treatments that help the immune system fight cancer. This treatment is an oncolytic virus injected into the tumor of patients and kill tumor cells.

Congratulations to everyone who contributed to this achievement—and most importantly, to the patients who may benefit from new treatment options 💙

06/08/2026

What can the gut microbiome tell us about melanoma immunotherapy?
Follow our daily series of the findings how gut bacteria is associated with how melanoma patients responds to immunotherapy.

Two studies in Nature Medicine and Science reported that response to immune-checkpoint therapy was associated with distinct gut microbiome patterns. In particular, responders were more likely to have microbiomes enriched in the bacteria type called Ruminococcaceae and Faecalibacterium.

The studies also linked diet with these outcomes:

• Ruminococcaceae-dominated microbiomes were associated with a 74% response rate of melanoma patients to immunotherapy, compared with 54% response rate in melanoma patients dominated by Bacteroidaceae bacteria.
• Higher omega-3 fatty acid intake was associated with better response and a lower frequency of the combined outcome of non-response and severe immune-related toxicity.
• Higher dietary fibre intake was associated with longer progression-free survival.

These findings are important, but they show associations rather than proof that changing diet or taking supplements will improve treatment outcomes of melanoma patients during treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Prospective clinical trials are needed to determine whether modifying diet or the microbiome can benefit patients with melanoma.
This is of particular interest to M***a Biosciences as we are currently treating melanoma patients in our phase IB clinical trial.

03/08/2026

Did you know there is more than one type of melanoma?

Melanoma comes an several forms with the most frequent being cutaneous melanoma.
🌞 1. Cutaneous Melanoma in the skin counts about 90% of all melanoma cases. It usually develops from a new or changing mole on the skin and is often linked to ultraviolet (UV) exposure from the sun or tanning beds. It is typically treated with surgery, Immunotherapy or BRAF inhibitors for certain patients.
👁️ 2. Uveal Melanoma develops in the eye and accounts for approximately 5% of all melanoma cases.
Typical treatment is radiation or Eye-preserving surgery when possible, or
removal of the eye (enucleation) for larger tumors. At later stages Immunotherapy is used but seldom leads to cure of the patients.
🦶 3. Acral Melanoma is about 3% of all melanoma cases and develops on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, or under the nails. Unlike most skin melanomas, it is not related to sun exposure and is often diagnosed later because people rarely inspect these areas. Typical treatment is surgery, immunotherapy, targeted therapy or radiation therapy.
👄 4. Mucosal Melanoma is the most rare kind of melanoma or about 1% of all melanoma cases. Mucosal melanoma develops in the lining of the mouth, nose, throat, digestive tract, or ge***al tract. It is one of the most aggressive forms of melanoma because it often grows unnoticed until it has become advanced, and may be treated similar to Acral Melanoma.

M***a Biosciences is focusing on treatment of cutaneous and Uveal melanoma and have currently a clinical study ongoing for patients that have experienced progression after initial response to immunotherapy.

30/07/2026

Dietary hacks to fight cancer and spice up with movement