'Exciting' needle-free skin cancer vaccine trial set to launch on NHS

Dozens of cancer patients will be offered a needle-free vaccine to stop the disease returning in a major trial. The therapy aims to boost the 's ability to recognise, attack and remember cancer cells. The iSCIB1+ is the second to be added to the Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad (CVLP) which fast-tracks eligible patients to studies, after a bowel cancer jab.

Prime Minister said the scheme was a good example of action to speed up clinical trials and cut red tape, "so that Britain is the best country in the world for medical research". He added: "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."

Melanoma is the fifth most common cancer in the UK, accounting for around 4% of all new cancer cases. Analysis suggests cases rose by a third in the decade to 2019.

The vaccine works by targeting biomarkers specific to melanoma tumours and acting as a red flag to the immune system.

This helps to activate T cells, which seek out, attack and destroy the cancer cells, while also creating an immune "memory" that may help to prevent the cancer returning.

Developed by UK life-sciences company Scancell, the vaccine is administered with a device that delivers a high-pressure jet of liquid medicine, piercing the skin without a needle.

The trial has already started and the CVLP, co-ordinated by the Southampton Clinical Trials Unit, will now recruit dozens more patients by October.

More than 350 patients have also been fast-tracked for consideration for the personalised BioNTech vaccine trial.

NHS national cancer director Professor Peter Johnson said: "Skin cancer can have a devastating impact and we know that cancer vaccines have the potential to revolutionise cancer care for patients in this country and across the world - and to save more lives.

"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.

"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."

Dr Iain Foulkes, executive director of research and innovation at Cancer Research UK, said studies into targeted treatments were crucial.

He added: "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."

Professor Gareth Griffiths, director of the Southampton Clinical Trials Unit said: "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 ground-breaking programme we can help to increase referrals for this trial and give more patients with advanced melanoma access to new, potentially life-saving treatments."

'I hope the vaccine will eradicate my cancer.'

Paul Thomas, 43, was diagnosed with skin cancer in 2017 and the disease kept returning after treatment. The grandfather-of-four joined the SCOPE skin cancer vaccine trial last year.

He said: "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."

Paul, who owns a window cleaning business in New Milton, Hampshire, added: "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."