British patient is first to receive BioNTech's experimental vaccine

toa company German biotechnology company BioNTech A company has developed a messenger RNA vaccine to treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) — the most common form of the disease. The vaccine, known as BNT116, is currently undergoing a clinical trial aimed at determining the safety profile of the product and the appropriate dose to give to patients. Nearly 130 participants from seven countries will be enrolled in the competition.article. Londoner Janusz Racz, 67, is everyone Firstly To benefit from it.

The vaccine, called BNT116, is a form of immunotherapy. It is designed to improve the body’s immune response to cancer cells. This is done by using messenger RNA (mRNA) to deliver common tumour markers for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to the patient’s immune system. The immune system then learns to recognise and fight cancer cells that express these markers. This reduces the risk of recurrence. Another advantage of this approach is that it reduces the risk of collateral damage – unlike radiotherapy and chemotherapy, which can affect healthy cells. A phase 1 clinical trial has just started at 34 research sites in seven countries (the UK, the US, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Spain and Turkey).

Targeted and safe treatment of healthy tissue

Janusz Racs was diagnosed with lung cancer in May. He soon began simultaneous chemotherapy and radiotherapy. On August 20, he received his first injection of the vaccine, becoming the first patient to test BNT116.

” II thought my participation in this research might help others in the future and contribute to making this treatment more widely available. “, AdvertiseWith his scientific background, he is convinced that science can only advance through this kind of research, and says he is “open to new things.” He now hopes the vaccine will prevent cancer from recurring.

The trial will enroll a total of approximately 130 patients, at various stages of NSCLC. The profile will range from early stage before surgery or radiotherapy (stages 2 and 3) to advanced stage disease (stage 4) or recurrent cancer. The vaccine will be tested as a monotherapy, but also in combination with conventional NSCLC treatments. The aim is to investigate whether BNT116 has a synergistic antitumor effect when used with standard chemotherapy or immunotherapy.

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This vaccine is based on the same technology used in the Covid vaccine, mRNA. The last ones here are for typical tumor markers for NSCLC. The goal is to prepare the body to fight cancer cells that express these markers on their surface.

” The strength of our approach lies in the truth The treatment largely targets cancer cells. We hope that we will eventually be able to demonstrate that the treatment is effective against lung cancer while leaving other tissues intact. “, Dr. Sarah Bin Afif saida consultant oncologist, who is leading the trial at University College London Hospitals.

Extra 'boost' for immunotherapy

Janusz Racz has already received six injections, five minutes apart. Each contains different strands of mRNA. He will receive a new injection every week for six weeks, then every three weeks. The total duration of treatment is 54 weeks.

From the results obtained with the Covid vaccines, we now know that the body responds well to mRNA vaccines. The same should be true for BNT116.

Immunotherapy has made tremendous progress, especially in the treatment of lung cancer. Today, oncologists use personalized therapies based on the epidermal growth factor receptor (or EGFR). Mutations affecting the expression or activity of this receptor are the cause of several forms of lung cancer. We therefore use monoclonal antibodies that directly target EGFR. However, this approach does not yet make it possible to successfully treat all patients.

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About 20 to 30 percent of patients survive stage IV with immunotherapy. BNT116 aims to improve patients’ immune response and prevent the disease from recurring. So it appears to be an additional “boost.” The researchers leading the trial believe this treatment could improve survival rates for people with non-small cell lung cancer.

Janusz Racz shares this enthusiasm. GI can be part of the team that will provide proof of concept for this new methodology, and the faster it is implemented around the world, the more lives will be saved. “, Advertise He has Independent.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. It is responsible for around 1.8 million deaths each year – including 45,000 in France. Smoking is the main risk factor: it causes 85% of cases. Other risk factors include exposure to secondhand smoke or certain chemicals, air pollution and chronic lung disease.

Towards personalized mRNA vaccines

Lung cancer is characterized by persistent cough, chest pain, and shortness of breath. Non-small cell lung cancer is often diagnosed late because it grows slowly. Therefore, when it is diagnosed, patients are often at an advanced stage. This is why the prognosis for this cancer is generally poor; the five-year survival rate is less than 20%. BioNTech’s vaccine brings new hope.

” It is good to see this vaccine take another important step. This approach could save the lives of thousands of people with lung cancer each year. “The vaccine could one day become the standard of care for patients with non-small cell lung cancer,” said Lord Vallance, the UK science minister. Researchers hope to move quickly into phases two and three of clinical trials.

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Please note that other vaccines of this type are currently being tested. For example, Moderna and Merck have developed an mRNA vaccine for the treatment of melanoma in phases III and IV, and in early June, the companies announced positive results from a phase II clinical trial. Researchers tested this vaccine with a monoclonal antibody (KEYTRUDA). They report “Sustained improvement in recurrence-free survival and metastasis-free survival.” The phase 3 trial began in April at UCLA.

In late May, a patient with colorectal cancer benefited from a personalized mRNA vaccine, designed by BioNTech and Genentech. The trial is part of the initiative Cancer Vaccine Launchpad From the National Health Service – the UK’s healthcare system. It is a platform designed to speed up access to clinical trials of an mRNA vaccine for people diagnosed with cancer.

” The NHS is playing a world-leading role in trialling cancer vaccines and, if successful, these vaccines could be revolutionary in vaccinating people against their own cancer to prevent it coming back after initial treatment. “, Kali Palmer confirmsDirector of Cancer at NHS England.