Doctors have started testing the world’s first mRNA lung cancer vaccine in patients, which experts believe could save thousands of lives, according to the Guardian.
The new vaccine, called BNT116, developed by “BioNTech,” teaches the body to find and destroy cancer cells and prevent them from returning. It targets non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the most common type of lung cancer.
The first human trial of BNT116, known as a phase 1 clinical trial, is taking place at 34 research sites in seven countries, including the UK, US, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Spain, and Turkey. Six of these sites are in the UK, where the first patient received the vaccine on Tuesday.
Around 130 patients will participate in this trial, receiving the vaccine with immunotherapy treatment, 20 of these patients are from the UK.
The vaccine uses messenger RNA (mRNA), similar to COVID-19 vaccines, to train the immune system to recognize and fight cancer cells with specific markers. Unlike chemotherapy, this treatment aims to target cancer cells without harming healthy cells.
Professor Siow Ming Lee, a medical oncologist leading the UK trial, called this a “very exciting new era” for mRNA-based cancer treatment, emphasizing its precision in targeting cancer cells.
Earlier this year, it was reported that patients in England would be fast-tracked into trials for cancer vaccines as part of a new National Health Service (NHS) program. The program aims to save lives by quickly providing access to these potentially groundbreaking treatments.
Science Minister Lord Vallance praised the lung cancer vaccine trial, saying it could save thousands of lives each year. He emphasized the importance of supporting researchers who are developing innovative therapies like this one.
The first person who has received the vaccine hopes to return to running after his treatment and fulfill his dream of completing the London Marathon.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths globally, causing about 1.8 million deaths each year. Survival rates are especially low for those with advanced lung cancer, when the disease has spread.