With the intensification of research related to messenger RNA (mRNA) technology and the emergence of COVID-19 vaccines have intensified speculation about how innovations could impact other areas of medicine. But a new study has been carried out with the immunization of a patient with a cancer vaccine using BioNTech mRNA technology.
The patient is participating in a phase II clinical trial combining the BNT111 vaccine with an existing immunotherapy drug on the market, in the hope of combating a specific type of advanced melanoma.
The immunized patient is the first of the 120 enrolled in the randomized study
Previous clinical data have shown that the vaccine is safe enough to progress in clinical research, right Clinical Trials Arena. From now on, BioNTech will monitor how well the vaccine works, together with the medicinel Libtayo, as a treatment for severe skin cancer – and this is a big problem, because the hope is that it will be able to treat patients in terminal stages.
According to the package leaflet, Libtayo is indicated as monotherapy in the treatment of adult patients with cutaneous skin carcinoma
squamous metastatic or locally advanced (CCCSm or CCCSla), who are not eligible candidates for curative surgery or radiotherapy for curative purposes.
Cancer, a bigger threat than the current pandemic
Same as COVID-19 vaccine on which BioNTech developed in collaboration with Pfizer, the experimental cancer vaccine relies on mRNA technology to teach a patient’s immune system how to fight cancer. But there are some key differences between testing a cancer vaccine and an extremely infectious virus
“Our goal is to harness the power of the immune system against cancer and infectious diseases. We were able to demonstrate the potential of mRNA vaccines in COVID-19. We must not forget that cancer is also a global health threat, even more serious than the current pandemic “, said Özlem Türeci, co-founder and medical director of BioNTech.
The BNT111 vaccine has already demonstrated a favorable safety profile and has shown encouraging preliminary results
With the start of treatment in the second phase of our study, we are encouraged to continue on our original path to realizing the potential of mRNA vaccines for cancer patients, ”added Özlem Türeci.
Thus, the immune system becomes “trained” to destroy tumors before they become problematic. BNT111 is the most advanced treatment in the FixVac network and targets four antigens, of which at least one is present in over 90% of cases of metastatic melanoma.
Along with BNT111, BioNTech is testing BNT112 (an experimental treatment for castration-resistant prostate cancer, currently in Phase I studies) and BNT113 (another mRNA treatment for head and neck cancers) in the platform using mRNA technology. HPV positive, also in phase I studies). Such vaccines could provide a chance for a massive increase in the survival rate in patients diagnosed with complex and advanced tumors, informs iflscience.
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