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

three-month high 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, designed to train the immune system of patients

to recognize and attack specific mutations in cancer cells,

earlier showed promise in treating melanoma in a mid-stage

study.

"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.

Yee said the combination showed a strong benefit in

extending survival, versus a previous trial testing Keytruda

alone.

Data from 22 patients who received the vaccine, mRNA-4157,

in combination with Keytruda was reported at the American

Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting at San Diego on

Monday.

The vaccine combination showed evidence of activation of

immune responses in patients, and was found to be safe and well

tolerated in the study, Moderna ( MRNA ) said.

Moderna ( MRNA ) shares have risen nearly 14% so far this year, after

a slump last year, as the company advances several vaccines such

as its shots against respiratory syncytial virus and the cancer

therapy to help offset a sharp decline in COVID product sales.