Patients with advanced head and neck cancers in England will be fast-tracked into a trial of a new cancer vaccine.
The investigational cancer vaccine uses mRNA technology to help the immune system recognise and kill cancer cells containing human papillomavirus proteins.
More than 100 patients with advanced head and neck cancer in England will be matched to the trial, running at 15 NHS hospitals over the next year, supported by the NHS’ Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad (CVLP).
This is the third cancer vaccine trial to be run through the NHS Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad, coordinated by the Southampton Clinical Trials Unit, which has already helped refer around 550 patients to trials of vaccines for bowel and skin cancers.
The first head and neck cancer patients in England have received the investigational mRNA cancer vaccine in the clinical trial, known as AHEAD-MERIT (BNT113-01), with more patients to soon be enrolled at their nearest NHS hospital.
Professor Peter Johnson, NHS England National Clinical Director for cancer, said: “It’s fantastic that more patients with advanced head and neck cancers will now be able to access this potentially transformative vaccine, offering renewed hope of holding the disease at bay.
“The NHS is always looking for evidence-backed innovations in treatment to improve survival and quality of life for people diagnosed with cancer, and this expansion of our Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad will give hundreds of patients the chance to be part of cutting-edge advances in cancer care”.
More than 11,000 new head and neck cancer cases are diagnosed in England every year, with cancers typically developing in the mouth, throat or voice box.
Despite advances in care for patients with head and neck cancer, the advanced form of the disease is difficult to treat and has high rates of recurrence, with two-year survival rates at under 50 per cent.
The investigational cancer vaccine is designed to encode two proteins that are frequently found in head and neck squamous cell cancers associated with human papillomavirus (HPV-16), the most common type of head and neck cancer (accounting for 95 per cent of these types of cancers), with the vaccine training the immune system to fight the cancer.
NHS England is partnering with life sciences company BioNTech to help identify potentially eligible patients to refer to NHS hospitals running the clinical trial.
Science Minister Lord Vallance said: “Advancements in cancer research offer patients hope for a better quality of life, and a better chance of survival.
“This clinical trial is an important milestone for an exciting new approach for patients living with head and neck cancer.
“Our partnership with BioNTech is delivering for patients right across the country, and I hope to see more ambitious work like this as they continue to invest in Research and Development and AI as part of their billion-pound backing for the UK over the next ten years.
“We’re determined to work closely with leading life sciences companies like BioNTech, to drive this thriving sector to even greater heights as part of our modern Industrial Strategy”.
Tamara Kahn, CEO at Oracle Head and Neck Cancer UK, added: “With two-thirds of head and neck cancer patients diagnosed at late stage and facing survival rates under 50 per cent at two years, this cancer vaccine trial offers crucial hope to those living advanced stages of cancer.
“While we advocate for HPV vaccination to prevent these cancers, those already fighting this devastating disease urgently need new treatments that could mean more time with loved ones.
“We’re encouraged by the NHS’s commitment to fast-tracking eligible patients into this trial and look forward to working with them and the Department of Health in potentially improving outcomes for those facing this challenging cancer.”
