World’s First mRNA Lung Cancer Vaccine Begins Clinical Trials

Doctors have commenced the world's first clinical trials for an mRNA-based vaccine aimed at treating lung cancer, a breakthrough that experts are calling "groundbreaking" for its potential to save thousands of lives.

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally, with approximately 1.8 million fatalities annually. The prognosis for patients with advanced stages of the disease, where tumors have metastasized, is particularly dire.

The new vaccine, known as BNT116 and developed by BioNTech, is designed to target non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the most prevalent type of lung cancer. It works by instructing the immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells that express specific tumor markers, aiming to prevent cancer recurrence.

The phase 1 trial of BNT116, marking the first human study of this vaccine, is being conducted at 34 research sites across seven countries: the UK, US, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Spain, and Turkey. In the UK, six sites are participating, with the first patient in the UK receiving their initial dose on Tuesday.

Approximately 130 patients will be enrolled in the trial, including both those with early-stage disease and those with late-stage or recurrent cancer. Of these, about 20 will be from the UK. The vaccine, which uses messenger RNA (mRNA) technology similar to that used in COVID-19 vaccines, is administered alongside existing immunotherapy treatments.

Prof. Siow Ming Lee, a consultant medical oncologist at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH), which is leading the trial in the UK, described the development as a significant advancement. "This new era of mRNA-based immunotherapy holds great promise for lung cancer treatment. The ability to target specific cancer antigens is a major leap forward in our approach to this disease," Lee said.

Janusz Racz, a 67-year-old scientist from London, was the first UK patient to receive the vaccine. Diagnosed with lung cancer in May, Racz had already undergone chemotherapy and radiotherapy. He expressed his enthusiasm for the trial, stating, "Being involved in this research is not just about my own treatment but about contributing to a breakthrough that could benefit many others."

Racz received six injections of the vaccine, each containing different RNA strands, over a 30-minute period at the National Institute for Health Research UCLH Clinical Research Facility. He will continue to receive the vaccine weekly for six weeks, followed by doses every three weeks for the next 54 weeks.

Prof. Lee hopes that this new treatment approach will help prevent cancer recurrence, a common challenge even after surgery and radiation. "Our goal is to improve survival rates and, eventually, make this mRNA vaccine a standard part of cancer care worldwide," Lee added.

The launch of this trial follows a recent initiative revealed by The Guardian in May, which aims to fast-track patients in England into pioneering cancer vaccine trials through an NHS "matchmaking" scheme.

Science Minister Lord Vallance praised the trial, noting, "This innovative approach has the potential to significantly impact lung cancer outcomes. We are committed to supporting our researchers in advancing therapies that could save countless lives."

Racz, who hopes to resume running and complete the London Marathon, is optimistic about the future and the impact of the trial. "Participating in this trial not only offers me hope but also contributes to a potential new chapter in cancer treatment," he said.