London’s 2012 Olympics mastermind reveals how cold sore virus ‘vaccinated’ him from tumours

May 23, 2016

Sir Michael Lockett, 68, diagnosed with head and neck cancer in 2009
He was put on experimental treatment and has now been given all clear
The drug, Imlygic, developed in UK and approved for use in Europe
But health authorities have refused to recommend it to the NHS
Campaigners have called for NHS to review how it approves treatments

Martyn Halle For The Mail On Sunday

Published:
16:00 EST, 21 May 2016

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Updated:
18:01 EST, 21 May 2016

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Sir Michael Lockett, pictured, has revealed he has been given the all-clear over his cancer after undergoing experimental treatment using the cold sore virus as a vaccination

The business brain behind the biggest public spectaculars in recent British history – from the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee pageant to the London Olympic opening ceremony in 2012 – has become one of the first patients to be cured of neck cancer by a pioneering treatment that uses the cold sore virus to vaccinate the body against tumours.

Events organiser Sir Michael Lockett was placed on the UK-developed medicine in 2009 when it was in early trial stages, and has now been given the all-clear by specialists.

The drug is the first to use a genetically engineered virus to stimulate the immune system and has eliminated tumours completely in some patients.

After performing well in safety studies the drug, talimogene laherparepvec, also known as Imlygic, was given the green light for use in Europe last year.

However, patients were dealt a blow in March when the NHS prescribing watchdog the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) refused to recommend the £1,670-per-vial drug to patients with advanced malignant melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer.

Last week campaigners called on both drug manufacturers and the NHS to review the way in which it prices and approves new cancer treatments.

Specialists believe that medicines to harness the body’s own defences will transform cancer treatment, allowing some patients with previously inoperable cancers to be effectively cured.

Sir Michael, 68, was diagnosed with head and neck cancer after he discovered a lump below his jaw.

At first it was put down to a tonsil infection and treated with antibiotics, but tests revealed it was cancer and had spread to his lymph glands.

Within weeks he was having aggressive radiotherapy treatment at London’s Royal Marsden Hospital in addition to chemotherapy, which was to last six months.

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The married father-of-three says that at the time he was ‘prepared try anything’ to beat a disease that claims the majority of its victims within 12 months.

Sir Michael said: ‘I was convinced there must be something out there that might help as there was no guarantee that chemotherapy and radiotherapy would do the job.’

Eventually he contacted Professor Kevin Harrington at the Institute of Cancer Research.

He persuaded Harrington to include him on an early trial of Imlygic, which was developed by two scientists at University College London.

Harrington injected the virus directly into the growth in the tycoon’s neck.

Sir Michael has helped organise events ncluding the 2012 London Olympics opening ceremony, pictured

The procedure triggers a two-pronged attack. Through genetic engineering, herpes is modified to infect cancer almost exclusively, bypassing healthy cells.

As the virus multiplies inside the cancer cells, they rupture, spilling the virus into the surrounding area, and the body’s immune reaction is triggered to neutralise any remaining cancer.

Within the first few treatments, Sir Michael’s neck tumour began to shrink. By the time he received his third injection there was no sign of the tumour.

He says: ‘It was no more. Kevin said he had to stop because he had nothing left to inject. I couldn’t believe the tumour had gone so quickly. It seemed like a miracle.’

Prof Harrington said: ‘The herpes virus appears to be a very powerful killer of cancer.’ Larger trials are now under way and experts believe Imlygic could also be used on liver, bowel and kidney cancer.

Sir Michael has helped set up Oracle, a charity to raise awareness of head and neck cancer. Nigella Lawson, who lost her first husband to neck cancer, is vice president.

Sir Michael said: ‘I’m a pretty lucky chap to have survived.’