Doctors have launched a global clinical trial of the world’s first mRNA lung cancer vaccine, marking a major milestone in cancer research. The vaccine, known as BNT116, is being developed by BioNTech and targets non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the most common form of lung cancer.
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, responsible for about 1.8 million deaths each year. Survival rates are particularly low in patients with advanced or metastatic stages.
“We are now entering this very exciting new era of mRNA-based immunotherapy clinical trials to investigate the treatment of lung cancer,” said Prof Siow Ming Lee, a consultant medical oncologist at University College London hospitals NHS foundation trust (UCLH).
How the vaccine works
BNT116 works similarly to the mRNA Covid-19 vaccines by teaching the immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells. It delivers tumor-specific markers to the immune system, prompting it to attack cells showing these markers while sparing healthy cells.
This method is designed to strengthen the body’s natural defenses and reduce the chances of recurrence after traditional treatments like surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy.
Global scope of the clinical trial
The phase 1 clinical trial is taking place across 34 research sites in seven countries: the UK, US, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Spain, and Turkey.
The UK has six trial sites in England and Wales. The first UK patient received the vaccine at the National Institute for Health Research UCLH Clinical Research Facility.
Meet the first UK patient
Janusz Racz, a 67-year-old AI scientist from London, was the first person in the UK to receive the vaccine. Diagnosed in May, he had already undergone chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
“I am a scientist too, and I understand that the progress of science – especially in medicine – lies in people agreeing to be involved in such investigations,” Racz said.
“It would be very beneficial for me, because it’s a new methodology not available for other patients that can help me to get rid of the cancer.”
He added that taking part in the trial could help speed up the availability of the treatment for others. His treatment began with six injections administered five minutes apart, followed by weekly doses for six weeks and then every three weeks for a year.
Hopes for the future
Prof Lee, who has worked in lung cancer research for four decades, believes the vaccine could be a powerful addition to immunotherapy.
“We hope adding this additional treatment will stop the cancer coming back because a lot of time for lung cancer patients, even after surgery and radiation, it does come back.”
“We now know about 20-30% [of patients] stay alive with stage 4 with immunotherapy and now we want to improve survival rates. So hopefully this mRNA vaccine, on top of immunotherapy, might provide the extra boost.”
Researchers aim to move quickly to phases 2 and 3, with the hope that the vaccine could eventually become part of the standard care protocol for lung cancer globally.
Part of a wider NHS initiative
This trial is part of a larger UK scheme to fast-track eligible patients into clinical trials for cancer vaccines. Experts see this as a revolutionary approach that may save thousands of lives.
Lord Vallance, the UK science minister, praised the effort: “This approach has the potential to save the lives of thousands diagnosed with lung cancer every year.”
Racz, the first patient in the UK, has one simple hope for life after treatment: to finally run and complete the London Marathon.
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