NHS England is accelerating access to a pioneering mRNA cancer vaccine for patients with advanced head and neck cancer, offering new hope against one of the most challenging forms of the disease.
More than 100 people in England living with advanced head and neck cancer will be fast-tracked into the AHEAD-MERIT (BNT113-01) clinical trial over the next year.
The study is taking place at 15 NHS hospitals and is coordinated by the Southampton Clinical Trials Unit.
The initiative is supported by the NHS Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad (CVLP) – a national ‘match-making’ programme connecting eligible patients with cutting-edge vaccine and immunotherapy trials.
This marks the third cancer vaccine trial run through the CVLP, which has already referred around 550 patients to studies for bowel and skin cancers.
The first participants have already received the investigational vaccine, with more due to be enrolled at their nearest participating hospital.
Professor Peter Johnson, NHS England National Clinical Director for cancer, emphasised the significance of the trial: “It’s fantastic that more patients with advanced head and neck cancers will now be able to access this potentially transformative vaccine, offering renewed hope of holding the disease at bay.
“The NHS is always looking for evidence-backed innovations in treatment to improve survival and quality of life for people diagnosed with cancer, and this expansion of our CVLP will give hundreds of patients the chance to be part of cutting-edge advances in cancer care”.
Why head and neck cancer needs new solutions
Each year, more than 11,000 people in England are diagnosed with head and neck cancer, which can develop in the mouth, throat, or voice box.
While treatment advances have improved early-stage outcomes, advanced disease remains notoriously difficult to treat.
Recurrence rates are high, and survival rates are sobering, with less than half of patients living beyond two years after diagnosis.
By targeting the cancer’s underlying viral cause, researchers hope this vaccine could boost survival and reduce relapse rates for patients with limited treatment options.
Harnessing mRNA to fight cancer
The investigational treatment, developed by life sciences company BioNTech, uses the same mRNA technology that underpinned some COVID-19 vaccines, but with a very different target.
It is designed to train the immune system to recognise and destroy cancer cells containing proteins linked to human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16).
This strain is responsible for around 95% of HPV-related head and neck squamous cell cancers. The vaccine encodes two specific proteins frequently found in these tumours, helping the body’s defences identify cancer cells as a threat and attack them.
Science Minister Lord Vallance highlighted the vaccine’s transformative potential: “Advancements in cancer research offer patients hope for a better quality of life, and a better chance of survival.
“This clinical trial is an important milestone for an exciting new approach for patients living with head and neck cancer.
“Our partnership with BioNTech is delivering for patients right across the country, and I hope to see more ambitious work like this as they continue to invest in Research and Development and AI as part of their billion-pound backing for the UK over the next ten years.
“We’re determined to work closely with leading life sciences companies like BioNTech, to drive this thriving sector to even greater heights as part of our modern Industrial Strategy”.
Speeding up cancer research
The CVLP is a joint effort between NHS England, the UK Government, and BioNTech.
It has been instrumental in cutting delays to trial enrolment, with some studies starting nearly a year earlier than expected.
The programme’s long-term goal is to match thousands more patients with innovative cancer vaccine and immunotherapy trials, covering a wide range of tumour types.
For those facing advanced head and neck cancer, this trial offers more than just a new treatment option – it represents a potential turning point in how these aggressive cancers are fought.
