This vaccine, known as BNT116 and developed by BioNTech, targets non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the most common type of lung cancer. Its aim is to eliminate cancer cells and prevent their recurrence by training the immune system to recognize and attack these cancerous cells.

The Phase 1 clinical trial, the first study of BNT116 in humans, is being conducted in the UK, the US, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Spain, and Turkey.

Approximately 130 patients, ranging from those in early stages before surgery or radiation to those with advanced or metastatic cancer, will receive the vaccine in combination with immunotherapy.

The vaccine uses messenger RNA (mRNA), similar to COVID-19 vaccines, and works by equipping the immune system with cancer markers from NSCLC to train the body to attack cancer cells expressing these markers.

The goal is to enhance the immune response to cancer while leaving healthy cells unharmed, unlike chemotherapy.

According to The Guardian, the first patient in the UK received the vaccine on Tuesday, marking a significant milestone in the study.

Experts, such as Professor Siow Ming Lee from University College London Hospitals, emphasize that this is the beginning of a “very exciting new era” in cancer research.

The UK’s Science Minister, Lord Vallance, expressed optimism about the trial, noting that this vaccine could potentially save thousands of lives, according to The Guardian.