April 9 (Reuters) - Moderna ( MRNA ) shares rose 8% in

morning trade on Tuesday after the company's individualized

cancer vaccine developed with Merck ( MRK ) showed positive

response in an early-stage trial in patients with a type of head

and neck cancer.

The vaccine is designed to train the immune system to

recognize and attack specific mutations in cancer cells.

"The data continue to validate the individualized therapy

platform and suggests it could potentially work in indications

outside melanoma," Jefferies analyst Michael Yee said in a note.

Moderna ( MRNA ) is testing its experimental messenger RNA cancer

vaccine with Merck's ( MRK ) Keytruda in patients with melanoma, the

most deadly skin cancer.

Data on the 28-patient study was reported at the American

Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting at San Diego on

Monday.