A skin cancer vaccine could be available on the NHS in the coming years, an expert has told The Mail on Sunday.
Earlier this year, scientists said an experimental jab — which primes the immune system to target cancer cells — could reduce the risk of death or recurrence by more than 40 percent.
Now the researcher behind the trial has revealed to this newspaper that a larger study involving thousands of people, including UK patients, is due to start next year and could lead to the NHS approving the groundbreaking jab by 2028.
“Our trial was exciting because it’s the first cancer vaccine of its kind to have such good results,” said Dr. Jane Healy, principal oncology researcher at MSD – the pharmaceutical company behind the skin cancer shot.
‘We still have to confirm these results in a larger group. If we can, this vaccine could be a huge benefit to patients.”
A skin cancer vaccine could be available on the NHS in the next few years, an expert has told The Mail on Sunday (stock photo)
Earlier this year, scientists said an experimental jab — which primes the immune system to target cancer cells — could cut the risk of death or recurrence by more than 40 percent
When asked about the projected implementation of the jab in the UK, Dr Healy said: ‘If all goes well I can envision it being available on the NHS in 2028.’
The news comes a week after the government announced an NHS program that will see 10,000 patients take part in a vaccine trial for a number of cancers, led by Covid jab manufacturer BioNTech.
Unlike traditional vaccines, the new cancer shots are not given to prevent disease. Instead, they are given to patients who have recently been treated for cancer to reduce the risk of the disease coming back.
The jab prepares the immune system to recognize specific genetic mutations in their cancer cells so that the body can destroy them if the disease returns.
Melanoma – the most deadly form of skin cancer that spreads to other parts of the body – affects more than 15,000 Britons each year and kills about 2,500.
Patients in the vaccine trial received a personalized shot every three weeks for nine months, as well as immunotherapy – a type of cancer medication that helps the immune system find and destroy diseased cells.
Researchers found that patients who received the shot were 44 percent less likely to die from melanoma or see their disease come back compared to a control group who received immunotherapy alone.
Dr. Healy added: “If this works for melanoma, then there’s no reason why the same technology couldn’t work for other types of cancer.”
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