Vaccine to be given to cancer patients with head and neck tumours
The vaccine uses mRNA technology to train the immune system to fight cancerous cells, specifically targeting proteins found in HPV-associated head and neck cancers.
Over 100 patients with advanced forms of the disease will be matched to the AHEAD-MERIT (BNT113) trial, which will run at 15 NHS hospitals over the next year.
This trial is the third to be run through the NHS Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad, a partnership between NHS England, the Government, and BioNTech.
Health officials and patient advocates have hailed the vaccine as potentially game-changing, offering crucial hope for improved outcomes and reduced recurrence for those with aggressive head and neck cancers.
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