Merseyside Hospital to Trial Groundbreaking Cancer Vaccine in New Study

Strategic Insights -

A major new cancer vaccine trial will be led by the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre in Liverpool, a leading hospital in the UK, in partnership with 14 research hospitals across the country. The trial is part of the National Health Service's (NHS) world-leading "matchmaking" service, the Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad (CVLP), designed to accelerate the development of cancer vaccines as a form of cancer treatment.

Stuart Kingston, a former head and neck cancer patient at the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, has welcomed the trial, highlighting the importance of new clinical trials in giving people hope for the future. The trial will focus on patients with head and neck cancer, a type of cancer that affects over 11,000 people in England each year.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre is partnering with 14 research hospitals to launch a new study for qualifying head and neck cancer patients.
  • The trial is part of the NHS' world-leading trial "matchmaking" service, the Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad CVLP.
  • The NHS designed CVLP to "accelerate the development of cancer vaccines as a form of cancer treatment".
  • Around 550 patients have been referred to trials of vaccines for bowel and skin cancers through the CVLP.
  • The total number of people diagnosed with head and neck cancer in England is more than 11,000 each year.
  • More than 100 patients will be matched to the cancer vaccine trial as it progresses.
  • The first cohort of patients taking part in the trial have received the investigational mRNA cancer vaccine, AHEAD-MERIT BNT113-01.
  • Professor Christian Ottensmeier, Clatterbridge's director of clinical research, said the NHS Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad is a great way for patients across the country to access exciting therapies.
  • The trial is pioneering the study of cancer vaccines in head and neck patients.
  • NHS England has partnered with life sciences company BioNTech to help identify patients for the trial.

Statistics:

  • Over 11,000 people are diagnosed with head and neck cancer in England each year.
  • Around 550 patients have been referred to trials of vaccines for bowel and skin cancers through the CVLP.
  • More than 100 patients will be matched to the cancer vaccine trial as it progresses.
  • The first cohort of patients taking part in the trial have received the investigational mRNA cancer vaccine, AHEAD-MERIT BNT113-01.

Sources:

  • [1] A Merseyside hospital will trial a major new cancer vaccine as part of a "world leading" programme, The Liverpool Echo (no date).
  • [2] NHS England has partnered life sciences company BioNTech to help identify patients for the trial, The Liverpool Echo (no date).
  • [3] The Clinical Research programme at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre has pioneered the study of cancer vaccines, including for head and neck patients, The Liverpool Echo (no date).
  • [4] Professor Peter Johnson, NHS England national clinical director, is also optimistic about the trial, The Liverpool Echo (no date).