Lung cancer: first trials of a vaccine that could save millions of lives

A new hope in the fight against lung cancer is emerging with the launch of a clinical trial for an innovative vaccine.

This vaccine, using messenger RNA (mRNA) technology, aims to train the immune system to detect and eliminate cancer cells, thereby reducing the risk of recurrence. The trial is taking place in seven countries, and the first patients are already beginning to receive this experimental treatment.


Lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, kills approximately 1.8 million people each year. The low survival rate of patients with advanced stages highlights the urgency for new therapeutic approaches.

The tested vaccine, named BNT116 and developed by BioNTech, could represent a significant breakthrough in this field. It relies on similar technology to the COVID-19 vaccines, using mRNA strands to teach the body to target and destroy tumor cells while sparing healthy cells, unlike chemotherapy.

The phase 1 clinical trial has begun in 34 research centers across the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Spain, and Turkey. Approximately 130 patients are participating in this initial phase, including about twenty in the United Kingdom. The vaccine is administered through multiple injections over an extended period. The goal is to assess the efficacy and safety of this treatment, which could complement existing immunotherapies and significantly improve survival rates.

Janusz Racz, a 67-year-old Briton, was one of the first to receive this vaccine. A scientist by profession, he emphasized the importance of participating in this research to advance medicine. After undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy, he received six injections of the vaccine within 30 minutes, each containing different RNAs. The treatment will continue over several months, with weekly injections initially, then spaced out over 54 weeks.

If the results of this phase 1 are promising, the next steps will involve expanding clinical trials with more patients in phases 2 and 3. Ultimately, this vaccine could become a standardized treatment, potentially saving thousands of lives each year in addition to current therapies.