Trials for a new lung cancer vaccine have commenced across seven countries, potentially revolutionizing the treatment and prevention of this deadly disease. The vaccine, known as BNT116, aims to eliminate lung cancer and prevent its recurrence.
Janusz Racz, 67, became the first patient in Britain to receive the vaccine at University College London Hospital. The vaccine, developed by BioNTech, targets non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the most common type of lung cancer.
The phase 1 clinical trial is being conducted across 34 research sites in the UK, the United States, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Spain, and Turkey, with six sites in Wales and England specifically involved. Out of the 130 participants, 30 will be from Britain.
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Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with over 1.8 million deaths annually. In the UK, there are around 48,500 new cases each year. Tobacco use is responsible for up to 72% of lung cancer cases, making it the primary avoidable cause of cancer globally.
The vaccine works by using messenger RNA (mRNA), similar to Covid-19 vaccines, to prompt the immune system to identify and destroy cancer cells. It presents the immune system with tumor markers specific to NSCLC, preparing the body to target cells displaying these markers.
Professor Siow Ming Lee of University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) remarked, “We are entering an exciting new era of mRNA-based immunotherapy for lung cancer treatment. This technology offers a targeted approach and represents the next major advancement in cancer therapy.”
