Doctors have begun the first human trials of an mRNA vaccine for lung cancer, marking a significant milestone in the fight against the world’s deadliest cancer. Known as BNT116, the vaccine is designed to treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the most common form of lung cancer, which accounts for about 1.8 million deaths globally each year.
Developed by BioNTech, the company behind one of the COVID-19 vaccines, BNT116 uses mRNA technology to instruct the immune system to identify and attack cancer cells. Unlike chemotherapy, which can harm healthy cells, this vaccine targets specific tumor markers to prime the body to fight cancer cells while leaving healthy cells untouched.
The phase 1 clinical trial, involving about 130 patients, is being conducted across 34 research sites in seven countries, including the UK, US, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Spain, and Turkey. The UK is participating with six sites in England and Wales. Janusz Racz, a 67-year-old London resident, was the first patient in the UK to receive the vaccine. Diagnosed with lung cancer in May, Racz started chemotherapy and radiotherapy shortly thereafter and decided to participate in the trial, inspired by his background in AI research and his belief in scientific progress.
Racz received six consecutive injections at the National Institute for Health Research UCLH Clinical Research Facility, with each injection containing different RNA strands. He will continue to receive the vaccine weekly for six weeks, followed by every three weeks for the next 54 weeks.
Professor Siow Ming Lee, a consultant medical oncologist at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) leading the UK trial, described the development as an exciting new era of mRNA-based immunotherapy for lung cancer. “It’s simple to deliver, and you can select specific antigens in the cancer cell and target them,” he said. “This technology is the next big phase of cancer treatment.”
The trial aims to strengthen patients’ immune responses to cancer, preventing recurrence. Lee, who has been involved in lung cancer research for 40 years, expressed hope that the vaccine could significantly improve survival rates when combined with immunotherapy.
Science Minister Lord Vallance praised the trial, emphasizing its potential to save thousands of lives annually. “This approach has the potential to save the lives of thousands diagnosed with lung cancer every year,” he said.
As the trial progresses, Racz hopes to return to running and fulfill his lifelong dream of completing the London Marathon, embodying the spirit of resilience and hope that this groundbreaking research represents.