Up to 10,000 Britons to participate in cancer vaccine trial

Vaccines will be used to help people with early and late-stage cancers and, if successfully developed, could become part of standard UK care

A nurse administers an experimental breast cancer vaccine to a patient at the University of Washington Medical Centre in Seattle. AP

Clinical trials to develop personalised cancer vaccines by 2030 are set to get under way, with up to 10,000 Britons taking part, after the government signed an agreement with a leading pharmaceutical firm.

Precision immunotherapies, which will be given to the participants, work by stimulating the immune system to recognise and eliminate cancer cells.

The government signed an agreement with German-based company BioNTech – which previously developed a coronavirus vaccine with Pfizer in less than a year.

The partnership, which builds on an agreement the government and the pharmaceutical firm signed in January, will lead the BioNTech setting up new laboratories in Cambridge which are expected to employ more than 70 top scientists.

“This landmark new agreement takes us one step closer to delivering life-saving new cancer treatments for thousands of patients right across the country,” Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said.

“The UK is a global leader in life sciences – helping to create thousands of highly skilled jobs and pioneering research – and it is testament to this success that BioNTech have chosen to make this significant investment here today.

“Personalised cancer vaccines have the potential to completely revolutionise the way we treat this cruel disease and it is hugely welcome that, thanks to today’s announcement, clinical trials will be rolled out widely.”

Trials will focus on personalised mRNA-based cancer immunotherapies which seek to activate a person’s immune system.

The technology is similar to that used in the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine.

They can either be designed to focus on shared abnormalities in a specific type of cancer or tailored to a patient's tumour.

A new Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad will create a database to help quickly identify cancer patients who could be eligible for potential trials.

Most participants are not expected to enrol before 2026.

The partnership will seek to help people with early and late-stage cancers and, if successfully developed, cancer vaccines could become part of standard care.

“This partnership is a huge step forward in the fight against cancer,” Health Secretary Steve Barclay said.

“I’m excited by the potential these trials have to both treat patients with cancer and those who have had it to stop it returning.

“This further demonstrates that the UK is an attractive location for innovative companies to invest and pioneer cutting-edge treatments for our patients.”

Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of the NHS, said: “The NHS will not stop in its efforts to pioneer new treatments that could be life-changing for future generations.

“This is why we are developing our very first Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad, enabling us to identify thousands of NHS patients suitable for cancer vaccine trials – giving them the earliest possible access to cutting-edge technology that has the potential to change cancer care forever.

“Thanks to advances in treatment and care alongside NHS awareness campaigns, cancer survival is at an all-time high, but the potential to stop cancer from returning is truly remarkable.”

Ugur Sahin, chief executive and co-founder of BioNTech, said: “We are truly honoured to be an integral part of this landmark partnership, alongside the UK government, NHS England, Genomics England and the National Institute for Health and Care Research.

“The United Kingdom’s expertise in genomic analyses in cancer patients is a critical component of our shared endeavour to make mRNA-based and precision cancer immunotherapies widely accessible through clinical trials.

“If successful, this collaboration has the potential to improve outcomes for patients with cancer not just in the UK, but also worldwide.”

On Thursday, the Health Secretary will convene a roundtable with NHS leaders and health experts to discuss how technology can drive innovation throughout the service.