Latest news with #GSK-OxfordCancerImmuno-PreventionProgramme
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Cancer vaccine being created by UK scientists could stop disease up to 20 years early
Scientists are working to create a new cancer vaccine that could 'detect the undetectable' and stop the disease up to 20 years before it has the chance to develop. Pharmaceutical giant GSK and the University of Oxford have teamed up to make a vaccine that targets cells at the pre-cancerous stage. The university has world-leading expertise in the study of pre-cancer biology, such as through identifying and sequencing neoantigens, which are proteins that forms on cancer cells and can be a target for drugs. Professor Sarah Blagden, who is director of the partnership, said cancer 'does not come from nowhere'. 'You always imagine it would take about a year or two years to develop in your body but, in fact, we now know that cancers can take up to 20 years, sometimes even more, to develop - as a normal cell transitions to become cancerous,' prof Blagden told BBC's Radio 4 on Monday. 'We know that actually at that point, most cancers are invisible when they are going through this, what we now call pre-cancer stage. And so the purpose of the vaccine is not to vaccinate against established cancer, but to actually vaccinate against that pre-cancer stage.' The GSK-Oxford Cancer Immuno-Prevention Programme has been launched on the back of several technological and scientific advances that have made the potential for vaccines against pre-cancer possible, said prof Blagden. 'We're lucky because there have been a huge amount of technical breakthroughs that mean we can …. start to be able to detect the undetectable,' she said. 'And from that, we've been able to work out what features those cells have as they're transitioning towards cancer, and so we can design a vaccine speficially targeted towards that.' As part of the deal, GSK will invest up to £50 million over three years into the prgoramme, which will look at how to identify vulnerabilities in pre-cancerous cells with vaccines or targeted medication. GSK's chief scientific officer Tony Wood said: We're pleased to further strengthen our relationship with Oxford University and to combine the deep knowledge of Oxford and GSK scientists. By exploring precancer biology and building on GSK's expertise in the science of the immune system, we aim to generate key insights for people at risk of developing cancer.' "We now know that cancer does not come from nowhere." Prof Sarah Blagden, director of a new research collaboration between pharma giant GSK and the University of Oxford, tells #R4Today about the development of a new 'pre-cancer' vaccine that could target the disease earlier. — BBC Radio 4 Today (@BBCr4today) January 27, 2025 Currently, more than 385,000 people are diagnosed with cancer each year in the UK, and more than 167,000 people a year will die from it, according to data from Cancer Research UK. Breast cancer is the UK's most common form of the disease, followed by prostate, lung and bowel cancer, which combined account for nearly half of all cancer deaths. Science and Technology secretary Peter Kyle said the government would back the life sciences sector to help it deliver research that could transform the health of the country. 'Cancer is a disease that has brought pain and heartbreak to every family in the country, including my own,' he said. 'But through our world-leading universities and businesses working in lockstep, like Oxford and GSK are doing here, we can harness science and innovation to transform what's possible when it comes to diagnosing and treating this disease.'
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists developing new cancer vaccine to target 'invisible' stage
A new cancer vaccine is being developed which scientists hope could target the disease before it takes hold. The University of Oxford is working with pharmaceutical giant GSK to develop the new jab. It is designed to prevent cancer from developing, by targeting cells at the pre-cancerous stage, before the disease begins to wreak havoc on the body. The end result could be in the form of a single jab, or multiple vaccines. Professor Sarah Blagden, from the University of Oxford, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'Cancer does not sort of come from nowhere. You always imagine it would take about a year or two years to develop in your body but, in fact, we now know that cancers can take up to 20 years, sometimes even more, to develop – as a normal cell transitions to become cancerous. READ MORE: Nationwide asks customers for a photo as payment rules change READ MORE: Author heartbroken as no one shows up to book signing – but gets last laugh "We know that, actually at that point, most cancers are invisible when they are going through this, what we now call pre-cancer stage. And so the purpose of the vaccine is not to vaccinate against established cancer, but to actually vaccinate against that pre-cancer stage." Several pharmaceutical firms have already had success with cancer vaccines that stop the disease coming back in people who already have established cancer. Oxford University has world-leading expertise in the study of pre-cancer biology, such as through identifying and sequencing neoantigens, which are proteins that forms on cancer cells and can be a target for drugs. Prof Blagden will co-lead the new GSK-Oxford Cancer Immuno-Prevention Programme, which is backed by £50 million from GSK. She said Oxford had expertise in the pre-cancerous changes 'so we can actually now start to sort of be able to detect the undetectable'. She added that experts have 'been able to work out what features those cells have as they're transitioning towards cancer, and so we can design a vaccine specifically targeted against that'. 'In this case, we're actually going for the cancer itself, but going at it at the pre-cancer stage," Prof Blagden said. In 2021, GSK and Oxford established the Institute of Molecular and Computational Medicine to drive forward the research and development of new medicines. Tony Wood, chief scientific officer at GSK, said: 'We're pleased to further strengthen our relationship with Oxford University and to combine the deep knowledge of Oxford and GSK scientists. 'By exploring pre-cancer biology and building on GSK's expertise in the science of the immune system, we aim to generate key insights for people at risk of developing cancer.' Professor Irene Tracey, vice-chancellor of the University of Oxford, added: 'This partnership represents a step forward in cancer research. 'By working with GSK to unite experts in clinical trials, immuno-oncology, vaccinology and pre-cancer research from across the University of Oxford, we aim to unlock the potential of cancer vaccines and bring hope to patients worldwide.' The move has also been welcomed by the Government. Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said: 'Cancer is a disease that has brought pain and heartbreak to every family in the country, including my own. But through our world-leading universities and businesses working in lockstep, like Oxford and GSK are doing here, we can harness science and innovation to transform what's possible when it comes to diagnosing and treating this disease.'
The Independent
27-01-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Cancer vaccine being created by UK scientists could stop disease up to 20 years early
Scientists are working to create a new cancer vaccine that could 'detect the undetectable' and stop the disease up to 20 years before it has the chance to develop. Pharmaceutical giant GSK and the University of Oxford have teamed up to make a vaccine that targets cells at the pre-cancerous stage. The university has world-leading expertise in the study of pre-cancer biology, such as through identifying and sequencing neoantigens, which are proteins that forms on cancer cells and can be a target for drugs. Professor Sarah Blagden, who is director of the partnership, said cancer 'does not come from nowhere'. 'You always imagine it would take about a year or two years to develop in your body but, in fact, we now know that cancers can take up to 20 years, sometimes even more, to develop - as a normal cell transitions to become cancerous,' prof Blagden told BBC's Radio 4 on Monday. 'We know that actually at that point, most cancers are invisible when they are going through this, what we now call pre-cancer stage. And so the purpose of the vaccine is not to vaccinate against established cancer, but to actually vaccinate against that pre-cancer stage.' The GSK-Oxford Cancer Immuno-Prevention Programme has been launched on the back of several technological and scientific advances that have made the potential for vaccines against pre-cancer possible, said prof Blagden. 'We're lucky because there have been a huge amount of technical breakthroughs that mean we can …. start to be able to detect the undetectable,' she said. 'And from that, we've been able to work out what features those cells have as they're transitioning towards cancer, and so we can design a vaccine speficially targeted towards that.' As part of the deal, GSK will invest up to £50 million over three years into the prgoramme, which will look at how to identify vulnerabilities in pre-cancerous cells with vaccines or targeted medication. GSK's chief scientific officer Tony Wood said: We're pleased to further strengthen our relationship with Oxford University and to combine the deep knowledge of Oxford and GSK scientists. By exploring precancer biology and building on GSK's expertise in the science of the immune system, we aim to generate key insights for people at risk of developing cancer.' Currently, more than 385,000 people are diagnosed with cancer each year in the UK, and more than 167,000 people a year will die from it, according to data from Cancer Research UK. Breast cancer is the UK's most common form of the disease, followed by prostate, lung and bowel cancer, which combined account for nearly half of all cancer deaths. Science and Technology secretary Peter Kyle said the government would back the life sciences sector to help it deliver research that could transform the health of the country. 'Cancer is a disease that has brought pain and heartbreak to every family in the country, including my own,' he said. 'But through our world-leading universities and businesses working in lockstep, like Oxford and GSK are doing here, we can harness science and innovation to transform what's possible when it comes to diagnosing and treating this disease.'
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
GSK and Oxford researchers to create cancer vaccine to stop disease developing
Pharmaceutical giant GSK and the University of Oxford are creating a new cancer vaccine to prevent the disease from developing. The partnership intends to create a vaccine or vaccines which target cells at the pre-cancerous stage, before the disease has taken hold and begun to wreak havoc on the body. Oxford University has world-leading expertise in the study of pre-cancer biology, such as through identifying and sequencing neoantigens, which are proteins that forms on cancer cells and can be a target for drugs. Several pharmaceutical firms have already had success with cancer vaccines that stop the disease coming back in people who already have established cancer. Professor Sarah Blagden, from the University of Oxford, will co-lead the new GSK-Oxford Cancer Immuno-Prevention Programme, which is backed by £50 million from GSK. She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'Cancer does not sort of come from nowhere. 'You always imagine it would take about a year or two years to develop in your body but, in fact, we now know that cancers can take up to 20 years, sometimes even more, to develop – as a normal cell transitions to become cancerous. 'We know that, actually at that point, most cancers are invisible when they are going through this, what we now call pre-cancer stage. 'And so the purpose of the vaccine is not to vaccinate against established cancer, but to actually vaccinate against that pre-cancer stage.' She said Oxford had expertise in the pre-cancerous changes 'so we can actually now start to sort of be able to detect the undetectable'. She said experts have 'been able to work out what features those cells have as they're transitioning towards cancer, and so we can design a vaccine specifically targeted against that. 'In this case, we're actually going for the cancer itself, but going at it at the pre-cancer stage.' Tony Wood, chief scientific officer at GSK, said: 'We're pleased to further strengthen our relationship with Oxford University and to combine the deep knowledge of Oxford and GSK scientists. 'By exploring pre-cancer biology and building on GSK's expertise in the science of the immune system, we aim to generate key insights for people at risk of developing cancer.' Professor Irene Tracey, vice-chancellor of the University of Oxford, said: 'This partnership represents a step forward in cancer research. 'By working with GSK to unite experts in clinical trials, immuno-oncology, vaccinology and pre-cancer research from across the University of Oxford, we aim to unlock the potential of cancer vaccines and bring hope to patients worldwide.' Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said: 'Cancer is a disease that has brought pain and heartbreak to every family in the country, including my own. 'But through our world-leading universities and businesses working in lockstep, like Oxford and GSK are doing here, we can harness science and innovation to transform what's possible when it comes to diagnosing and treating this disease.' In 2021, GSK and Oxford established the Institute of Molecular and Computational Medicine to drive forward the research and development of new medicines.
The Independent
27-01-2025
- Health
- The Independent
New cancer vaccine to stop disease before it takes hold in the body
A new cancer vaccine, aimed at preventing the disease from developing, is being developed by pharma giant GSK and the University of Oxford. The vaccine is intended to target cells at the pre-cancerous stage, before the disease has taken hold and begun to wreak havoc on the body. The collaboration will leverage Oxford's expertise in pre-cancer biology, focusing on targeting cells in the pre-cancerous stage. This innovative approach builds on the success of existing cancer vaccines that prevent recurrence in patients with established cancer, but this new venture aims to stop the disease before it develops. Professor Sarah Blagden, from the University of Oxford, will co-lead the new GSK-Oxford Cancer Immuno-Prevention Programme, which is backed by £50 million from GSK. She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'Cancer does not sort of come from nowhere. 'You always imagine it would take about a year or two years to develop in your body but, in fact, we now know that cancers can take up to 20 years, sometimes even more, to develop – as a normal cell transitions to become cancerous. 'We know that, actually at that point, most cancers are invisible when they are going through this, what we now call pre-cancer stage. 'And so the purpose of the vaccine is not to vaccinate against established cancer, but to actually vaccinate against that pre-cancer stage.' She said Oxford had expertise in the pre-cancerous changes 'so we can actually now start to sort of be able to detect the undetectable'. She said experts have 'been able to work out what features those cells have as they're transitioning towards cancer, and so we can design a vaccine specifically targeted against that. 'In this case, we're actually going for the cancer itself, but going at it at the pre-cancer stage.' Tony Wood, chief scientific officer at GSK, said: 'We're pleased to further strengthen our relationship with Oxford University and to combine the deep knowledge of Oxford and GSK scientists. 'By exploring pre-cancer biology and building on GSK's expertise in the science of the immune system, we aim to generate key insights for people at risk of developing cancer.' Professor Irene Tracey, vice-chancellor of the University of Oxford, said: 'This partnership represents a step forward in cancer research. 'By working with GSK to unite experts in clinical trials, immuno-oncology, vaccinology and pre-cancer research from across the University of Oxford, we aim to unlock the potential of cancer vaccines and bring hope to patients worldwide.' Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said: 'Cancer is a disease that has brought pain and heartbreak to every family in the country, including my own. 'But through our world-leading universities and businesses working in lockstep, like Oxford and GSK are doing here, we can harness science and innovation to transform what's possible when it comes to diagnosing and treating this disease.' In 2021, GSK and Oxford established the Institute of Molecular and Computational Medicine to drive forward the research and development of new medicines.
