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October 25, 2026

Takeaways from the most recent news in the technology and policies shaping healthcare.

Health IT

Moderna-Merck mRNA Cancer Vaccine Takes Center Stage at ESMO

By Healthcare Technology News ·

The European Society for Medical Oncology meeting in Madrid gave Moderna and Merck one of its most coveted slots, a 'presidential' presentation, for their personalized mRNA cancer vaccine used alongside Merck's blockbuster immunotherapy Keytruda, according to STAT News. The pairing is among the most anticipated programs in oncology because it tests whether mRNA technology, proven at scale during the pandemic, can be turned into tailored therapies that train the immune system to attack a patient's specific tumor.

The companies have been building toward larger, later-stage results after early signals suggested the combination could delay cancer recurrence. A strong showing would validate years of investment and reshape how drugmakers think about combining vaccines with existing checkpoint inhibitors.

Moderna and Merck were not the only draw. STAT News reports Amgen's Imdelltra also featured in Day 2 news, underscoring a meeting packed with late-stage data that oncologists, executives, and investors are watching for signals on where cancer treatment heads next.

Sources

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Health IT

Epic Opens Its Platform Wider to AI and Outside Developers

Epic used its Open@Epic developer conference to open its platform wider to outside AI and apps while reminding developers that the resulting traffic runs on hospitals' infrastructure.

Why it matters: As the dominant EHR vendor, Epic's decision to open its platform shapes how and where clinical AI gets deployed across most U.S. hospitals.

Health IT

After AI Go-Live, Who Owns Monitoring? Often No One

Health systems scrutinize AI before go-live, but post-deployment monitoring responsibilities often remain undefined, leaving no clear owner when models drift.

Why it matters: Unmonitored AI models can quietly degrade in clinical settings, putting patient safety at risk when no one is accountable for watching performance after launch.