NHS Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad

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In 2025, the focus for cancer vaccines is on continued clinical trials, particularly for personalised mRNA vaccines and therapeutic vaccines. The NHS Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad is fast-tracking patients with head and neck cancer into an mRNA vaccine trial using technology to train the immune system to target cancer cells, has shown positive results for its modified personalised melanoma vaccine, NeoVaxMI, and further data on the combination of mRNA-4157 and Keytruda is reinforcing its status as a viable treatment. Russia has also announced a personalised mRNA vaccine for public release in 2025, aiming to prevent tumour growth and spread.  

Key Developments in 2025

Head and Neck Cancer Trial (UK): The NHS is fast-tracking patients with advanced head and neck cancer into trials.

Personalised Melanoma Vaccine (US): Researchers at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have designed a new formulation and delivery approach for their personalised vaccine, NeoVaxMI, which has shown improved immune response and is safe and feasible in melanoma patients. 

Continued Success of mRNA-4157 (Global): Extended follow-up data is reinforcing the effectiveness of mRNA-4157 (V940) when combined with the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab (Keytruda) for various cancers, including melanoma and lung cancer. 

Russian mRNA Vaccine (Russia): Russia has announced that its personalised mRNA cancer vaccine will be released to the public in 2025, with promising pre-clinical results for preventing tumour growth and spread. 

Expansion to Other Cancers: BioNTech and Moderna are expanding their mRNA vaccine trials to other cancer types, such as colorectal and pancreatic cancers. 

Clinical Advancements: The period from 2024 to 2025 is marked by significant advances in mRNA cancer vaccine technology, positioning it as a viable treatment option. 

Focus on Personalised Vaccines: The trend continues towards developing personalised cancer vaccines that train the immune system to recognise and destroy a patient’s unique cancer cells.

Increased Access: The NHS Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad is improving access to clinical trials for patients.  

More Research Needed: While encouraging results are emerging, more data is still needed to confirm the broad efficacy of these vaccines across various cancer types. 

NHS rolls out 5-minute ‘super-jab’ for 15 cancers

Thousands of patients will benefit from a new cancer jab for more than a dozen types of the disease, with the NHS the first in Europe to offer the new injection. The health service is rolling out an injectable form of immunotherapy, “Nivolumab”, which means patients can receive their fortnightly or monthly treatment in 5 minutes instead of up to an hour via an IV drip. The roll-out will save over a year’s worth of treatment time for patients and NHS teams annually – enabling patients to spend less time in hospital while freeing up staff capacity to deliver more appointments and treatments.

The new jab can be used to treat 15 cancer types, including skin cancer, bladder, and oesophagus, and it is estimated around 1,200 patients in England per month could benefit.

The UK is actively expanding personalised mRNA cancer vaccine trials, with the NHS Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad (CVLP) accelerating patient access to these innovative treatments for various cancers, including head and neck, bowel, and skin cancer. Patients can be fast-tracked into trials at NHS hospitals after their doctor refers them and their cancer sample is assessed for suitability. This initiative aims to make cancer vaccines a part of routine treatment and solidify the UK’s position as a leader in cancer vaccine development

Utilising the unique benefits of the NHS as an innovation partner, the collaboration aims to provide up to 10,000 patients with personalised cancer treatments in the UK by 2030. It is set up by NHS England and Genomics England and works in parallel with the existing NHS Genomic Medicine Service.

You can find out more about clinical trials on the nhs.uk website.

The NHS Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad (CVLP) is a national platform for identifying patients potentially eligible for clinical trials of cancer vaccines. The CVLP supports delivery of key UK ambitions, including Genome UK, The Life Sciences Vision, the NHS Genomics Strategy, and the NHS Long Term Plan. The CVLP team is a collaborative programme including NHS England, Genomics England, the Department of Health and Social Care, the Office for Life Sciences, and the National Institute for Health and Care Research.

The CVLP team can be contacted on england.cancervaccinelaunchpad@nhs.net

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