New Delhi, Aug. 19 -- Moderna shares jumped over 110% in early trading on Wednesday after the drugmaker said its mRNA skin cancer vaccine, used alongside Merck's immunotherapy Keytruda, achieved key goals in a late-stage trial involving patients with melanoma.

The study is still ongoing, but interim results showed that the treatment, Intismeran, met its primary endpoint of reducing the risk of cancer recurrence. It also achieved a secondary goal of lowering the risk of the cancer spreading to other parts of the body.

The results provide a major boost to Moderna as the company seeks to diversify its business beyond its COVID-19 vaccine. Moderna has recently expanded its portfolio with an FDA-approved flu vaccine and is also developing ex...