Accelerated mRNA vaccine testing for head and neck cancer patients is being pursued by the NHS
Headline: NHS England Accelerates Access to Groundbreaking mRNA Cancer Vaccine for Advanced Head and Neck Cancer Patients
The UK government, in partnership with BioNTech, a leading life sciences company, is driving the development of an investigational cancer vaccine for advanced head and neck cancer. This vaccine, similar to some COVID-19 vaccines, utilizes mRNA technology to train the immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells containing proteins linked to HPV-16.
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HPV-16 is responsible for around 95% of HPV-related head and neck squamous cell cancers. Each year, more than 11,000 people in England are diagnosed with head and neck cancer, and recurrence rates are high, with less than half of patients living beyond two years after diagnosis. This new vaccine offers hope for those affected by this disease.
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NHS England is accelerating access to this pioneering mRNA cancer vaccine through the NHS Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad (CVLP), a national 'match-making' program connecting eligible patients with cutting-edge vaccine and immunotherapy trials. More than 100 people in England living with advanced head and neck cancer will be fast-tracked into the AHEAD-MERIT (BNT113-01) clinical trial over the next year.
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The study is taking place at 15 NHS hospitals and is coordinated by the Southampton Clinical Trials Unit. This marks the third cancer vaccine trial run through the CVLP. The initiative has already referred around 550 patients to studies for bowel and skin cancers, and the CVLP's long-term goal is to cover a wide range of tumor types.
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Science Minister Lord Vallance has emphasized the vaccine's transformative potential, stating, "This is a significant milestone for an exciting new approach for patients living with head and neck cancer." BioNTech has also committed to investing in Research and Development and AI as part of their billion-pound backing for the UK over the next ten years.
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Treatment advances have improved early-stage outcomes for head and neck cancer, but advanced disease remains notoriously difficult to treat. The first participants have already received the investigational vaccine, with more due to be enrolled at their nearest participating hospital. This marks a promising step forward in the fight against advanced head and neck cancer.
