World first mRNA lung cancer vaccine trial begins, offering hope for thousands

Lauren Taylor

IN WHAT’S BEING HAILED AS A GROUNDBREAKING ADVANCEMENT IN CANCER TREATMENT, DOCTORS HAVE STARTED TRIALS ON THE WORLD’S FIRST mRNA LUNG CANCER VACCINE.

THE VACCINE IS BEING DEVELOPED BY THE SAME GERMANY COMPANY BEHIND THE COVID-19 VACCINES. 

EXPERTS ARE HOPEFUL THIS NEW TREATMENT COULD SAVE THOUSANDS OF LIVES.

LUNG CANCER IS THE WORLD’S LEADING CAUSE OF CANCER DEATHS, RESPONSIBLE FOR ABOUT ONE-POINT-EIGHT MILLION LIVES LOST EVERY YEAR. THIS NEW VACCINE IS BEING TESTED ON PATIENTS WITH THE MOST COMMON TYPE OF LUNG CANCER.

THE TRIAL IS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY ACROSS 34 RESEARCH SITES IN SEVEN COUNTRIES INCLUDING THE UK, US, GERMANY AND SPAIN.

A UK PATIENT, DIAGNOSED EARLIER THIS YEAR, WAS THE FIRST TO  RECEIVE THE TREATMENT. ACCORDING TO THE BBC, HIS TREATMENT WILL CONTINUE WEEKLY FOR SIX WEEKS, FOLLOWED BY A LONGER-TERM SCHEDULE OVER THE NEXT YEAR. 

THE INJECTIONS ARE DESIGNED TO TARGET  SPECIFIC MARKERS FOUND ON HIS CANCER CELLS.THIS APPROACH HAS SCIENTISTS EXCITED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL. 

THE TRIAL IS STILL IN ITS EARLY STAGES.RESEARCHERS NOTED, THE SAME MRNA TECHNOLOGY THAT HELPED COMBAT THE WORST OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC COULD NOW BE THE KEY TO FIGHTING CANCER. 

WE’LL BE KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON HOW THIS STUDY PROGRESSES AND THE IMPACT IT MIGHT HAVE ON CANCER TREATMENT WORLDWIDE- AND YOU CAN TOO. DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP – AND SIGN UP FOR UPDATES SO YOU NEVER MISS A STORY.