Patients with advanced melanoma in England are set to be fast-tracked into trials of a new cancer vaccine, following the expansion of a NHS England program.
The needle-free injection, which is given for up to two years, works by boosting the immune system’s response and helping it recognize, attack, and “remember” cancer cells.
The NHS has partnered with UK life sciences company Scancell to widen access for patients at hospitals across the country, with seven sites initially registered and more to follow, and the first patients are expected to be referred in May.
Latest Part of Launch Pad
The trial is the latest part of NHS England’s Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad (CVLP), a program that aims to fast-track eligible patients to studies developing vaccines against different cancers at their nearest participating hospital.
The Launch Pad has already begun trials of a personalized vaccine against bowel cancer, with more than 350 patients fast-tracked for consideration, and has now expanded to include a trial for melanoma.
The new DNA vaccine, known as iSCIB1+ (Immunobody), is not personalized to a patient’s tumor, but aims to improve the recognition of cancer cells by the immune system to boost response to immunotherapy. It is being trialed by needle-free injection into the skin or muscle.
The Phase II trial, known as SCOPE, is underway, and the NHS CVLP—coordinated by the Southampton Clinical Trials Unit—seeks to expand the number of patients able to take part and recruit dozens of patients by October.
To be eligible for the trial, advanced melanoma patients who haven’t yet received treatment will first need a blood test to determine their tissue type. This test looks at genes that control how the immune system works, which vary from person to person.
“It’s incredibly exciting that the NHS is expanding its world-leading programme so more patients with different types of cancer could benefit from the development of new vaccines that could stop their cancer coming back,” says NHS National Cancer Director Professor Peter Johnson in a news release. “We want to ensure as many eligible NHS patients as possible have access to these vital trials, which is why we are working with a range of industry partners as more studies get up and running to ensure patients are fast-tracked to a vaccine that could transform lives.”
SCOPE Trial Participant
Paul Thomas, 63, a grandfather of four from New Milton, Hampshire, was first diagnosed with advanced skin cancer in 2017, and the disease kept returning following treatment.
Last year, Paul—who owns a window-cleaning business—was given the opportunity to be part of the SCOPE skin cancer vaccine trial, which is now part of the NHS Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad.
He says, “I feel so lucky to be put on the trial. Thankfully, I was still quite fit, and since I’ve been on it, my tumours have all shrunk. Every time I go for a scan they seem to be shrinking, which is really exciting.
“I’m really hoping for total eradication of my cancer, as opposed to being put in remission, and I’m feeling optimistic. The care I’ve had so far has been fantastic, and the team that have looked after me have been superb, along with amazing support from my family. I’m so thankful.”
UK Experts React
The announcement comes a week after the Prime Minister announced plans for a new health data research service, to transform access to NHS data so clinical trials can be fast-tracked to accelerate the development of the medicines and therapies of the future. This in turn could help boost the UK’s world leading life sciences sector and drive growth through the government’s Plan for Change.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer says, “This kind of innovation is nothing short of life-saving, and I want to see more of these world-leading treatments being developed in the UK.
“That’s why, through our Plan for Change, we’ve taken action to boost our life sciences sector through steps to fast-track clinical trials and cut red tape for researchers—so that Britain is the best country in the world for medical research.
“This will accelerate the discovery of transformative treatments and improve services for patients, driving growth across the country while making sure as many people as possible can benefit from cutting-edge treatments.”
Minister of State for Health, Karin Smyth, adds: “As someone who has overcome skin cancer, I know that every advancement in treatment brings hope to patients and their families.
“This innovative collaboration through our Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad could transform how we treat advanced melanoma. By fast-tracking eligible patients into clinical trials across the country, we’re ensuring more people can access potentially life-saving innovations while supporting crucial research.
“This is just the start; our Plan for Change will continue driving fundamental reform of the NHS to ensure it is delivering for all patients once again.”
Further Reactions
Professor Gareth Griffiths, Director of the Southampton Clinical Trials Unit, agrees. “It is fantastic to see the expansion of the Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad with the addition of this melanoma cancer vaccine trial. Our team have been working hard with Scancell to bring the trial on to the CVLP platform, and we hope that by being part of this groundbreaking programme we can help to increase referrals for this trial and give more patients with advanced melanoma access to new, potentially life-saving treatments.”
Dr Nermeen Varawalla, Chief Medical Officer of Scancell, says: “Cancer vaccines have the potential to transform immunotherapy, redefine treatment options, and ultimately save lives.
“Recent clinical data has demonstrated that our potent, tumour-targeted ‘off-the-shelf’ cancer vaccine delivers strong efficacy, with the potential for meaningful long-term survival benefits in patients with advanced metastatic melanoma.
“Our partnership with the CVLP will give patients expedited access to this landmark study and is an important step in accelerating the clinical development of this important new treatment.”
“Research is vital to advancing healthcare, and I am delighted that more of our patients will now benefit from access to pioneering cancer vaccines,” says Karen Underwood, Director of Research & Development at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust. “Evidence shows that hospitals actively engaged in clinical research tend to have better patient outcomes, even for patients who are not directly involved in a research trial, and that is why research is so important to our trust.”
An Exciting Development
Susanna Daniels, CEO of Melanoma Focus, says: “Melanoma skin cancer can be deadly, and it’s sadly on the rise in the UK. As well as continuing to call for urgent action on prevention, we’re delighted to see progress in innovative treatments and very much welcome the expansion of this vaccine trial.
“The use of vaccines to treat melanoma is an exciting development, and we will be encouraging eligible patients to take part in these groundbreaking trials with our up-to-date Melanoma TrialFinder so that vaccines can be understood and patients can locate trial centres to discuss with their medical teams.”
Dr Iain Foulkes, Executive Director of Research and Innovation at Cancer Research UK, adds, “Cancer vaccine research continues to show promise, and the Cancer Vaccines Launch Pad is an important route to fast-track this technology into clinical trials.
“Research into targeted cancer treatments is vital. There are over 200 different types of cancer, and it’s unlikely there will ever be a single cure that works for everyone. That’s why it’s vital that we support a wide range of research, so that more people can live longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.”
