A new melanoma vaccine, known as iSCIB1+ (Immunobody), is showing promise in helping the immune system recognize and fight cancer cells, potentially improving the effectiveness of existing immunotherapy treatments.
The vaccine works by training the immune system to better identify, attack, and “remember” cancer cells. This could help prevent the recurrence of melanoma, a type of skin cancer. While around half of melanoma patients benefit from immunotherapy, those who do not often face a higher risk of their cancer worsening.
The vaccine is currently being tested through a needle-free injection, either into the skin or muscle. The Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad (CVLP), in partnership with the UK life sciences company Scancell, hopes to increase the number of patients participating in the trial by October.
Melanoma is the fifth most common cancer in the UK, making up about 4% of all new cancer cases. Professor Peter Johnson, the NHS national cancer director, commented on the vaccine’s potential, saying, “Skin cancer can have a devastating impact, and we know cancer vaccines have the potential to revolutionize cancer care both in the UK and worldwide. It’s incredibly exciting that the NHS is expanding its world-leading program to include more patients and offer new treatments that could stop cancer from returning.”
Paul Thomas, a 63-year-old from New Milton, Hampshire, was first diagnosed with advanced skin cancer in 2017. Despite treatment, the cancer kept returning. Last year, he was enrolled in the SCOPE skin cancer vaccine trial, now part of the NHS CVLP program. Thomas, who runs a window cleaning business, shared his optimism about the trial, saying, “I feel so lucky to be part of the trial. Since joining, my tumours have been shrinking with every scan, which is really exciting. I’m hoping for total eradication of my cancer and feeling optimistic.”
He added, “The care I’ve received has been fantastic, and I’m incredibly grateful for the support from my family and the medical team.”
Dr. Nermeen Varawalla, Chief Medical Officer at Scancell, emphasized the potential of cancer vaccines to transform treatment. “Recent clinical data has shown that our targeted cancer vaccine delivers strong results and could provide significant long-term survival benefits for patients with advanced metastatic melanoma,” she said. “Our collaboration with the CVLP will fast-track patient access to this important study, accelerating the development of this promising treatment.”
Susanna Daniels, Chief Executive of Melanoma Focus, expressed her support for the vaccine trial’s expansion. “Melanoma skin cancer is on the rise in the UK and can be deadly. While we continue to push for action on prevention, we’re pleased to see progress in innovative treatments. The vaccine trial expansion is a welcome development, and we encourage eligible patients to participate.”
She also noted that the Melanoma TrialFinder would help patients find trial centers and access up-to-date information on ongoing trials.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer praised the development of the new vaccine, calling it “life-saving innovation.” He added, “I want to see more of these world-leading treatments being developed here in the UK.”
The NHS Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad (CVLP) aims to fast-track the development of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccine trials for various types of cancer, including melanoma. The program has already helped thousands of patients gain access to personalized vaccines for bowel cancer and is now expanding to offer similar treatments for melanoma patients.
The CVLP plans to provide personalized cancer treatments to up to 10,000 patients in England by 2030. With faster recruitment processes and more trial sites across the NHS, the program aims to produce quicker results and advance cancer treatment more effectively.
In conclusion, the iSCIB1+ melanoma vaccine, part of the NHS CVLP initiative, represents a significant step forward in cancer treatment. With promising early results, the trial offers hope to many melanoma patients and brings the possibility of more personalized and effective cancer therapies.
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