- Michelle Roberts
- Digital Health News Editor
image source, Getty Images
UK launches ambitious plan to accelerate cancer mRNA vaccine research with BioNTech (BioNTech), a German pharmaceutical company
After the successful production of a vaccine against COVID-19 Using mRNA or messenger-ribonucleic-acid (messenger-ribonucleic-acid) technology, scientists want to use the same technology to test vaccines on cancer patients.
they hope This personalized treatment will be available to about 10,000 patients by 2030.
Britain was the first country to sign such an agreement.
BioNtech is in the process of multinational trials of a multi-cancer vaccine. But the company stated that The UK is in the right place. It has a history and excellent infrastructure in medical research.
image source, Getty Images
Erzlem Tureshi (right) and her husband, founder of BioNTech. Covid Vaccine Development Company
Some of the patients taking part in the trial will be patients who have had cancer before and have been cured, and hope the vaccine will help prevent their cancer from returning.
Other patients are patients whose cancer has spread and spread. The vaccine may help reduce the progression and control the cancer.
mRNA-based treatment is different from chemotherapy. It attacks many different cells, including cancer, but mRNA-based therapies are tailored to individuals. and insert the genetic code from a specific cancer into the immune system to be able to attack only the tumor
This makes this type of treatment more expensive. But there’s still a lot of work to be done in pointing out that. Is this cost justified for the UK’s National Health Service (NHS)? commercial precautions Therefore, details of the cooperation between the government and BioNtech have not yet been disclosed.
‘Arrest Announcement Poster’
Professor Erzlem Tureshi, Co-Founder of BioNTech He told BBC News: “The UK is an excellent partner for this effort.”
“We have seen during the COVID-19 pandemic that regulators have been great at swiftly approving vaccines in the UK.”
“And then there’s also the ability to analyze genomes. The UK is one of the leading nations in this field.”
“This concept is Using specific molecular features in each patient’s cancer cell line encoded into mRNA vaccines to train the immune system to attack.”
She said it was like putting up an arrest notice. or giving rewards to bring to stimulate the body to prepare and fight
Because cancer is a complex disease. Patients may need multiple doses of the vaccine to keep the immune system on alert.
UK Secretary of Health and Social Care Steve Barclay said: “As soon as cancer is detected, it is immediately cleared. We must ensure that The best possible treatment can be used. including pancreatic cancer, lung cancer and breast cancer.”
“BioNtech has helped lead the world in COVID-19 vaccines. And they share our commitment to scientific advancement.”
“With this collaboration, from the beginning of September, our patients will be among the first to participate in trials and trials for precise treatment. Be personalized and specific, using new, transformative treatment methods. in both treating existing cancer and preventing cancer from returning.”
Cancer Research UK welcomed the news, but said the delay in diagnosis and treatment was “delayed”. will cause the staff to work more and may not be able to find the time required to conduct a medical trial. If this continues It would delay the process of finding a new treatment.”
Cancer Research UK spokesman Dr Ian Falks said: “The mRNA vaccine is one of the most exciting research developments to come during the pandemic. and there is a clear glimpse that They could become a viable cancer treatment option.”
“To reach that point Much more research will be needed.”