mRNA Cancer Vaccine Shows Promise in Skin Cancer Trial, Drug Companies Say

The claim centres on a vaccine tailored to each individual patient’s tumour — using the same mRNA (messenger RNA) technology that underpins some Covid-19 jabs — and was reported by the BMJ after the companies made their announcement publicly. Phase 3 trials are the large-scale human studies that regulators typically require before a treatment can be approved for routine use.

The BMJ posted the story with a note of caution. The findings come from a press release rather than a peer-reviewed paper — meaning the data has not yet been independently scrutinised by other scientists in the way published research would be. That distinction matters.

So what do we actually know? Very little beyond the headline claim. No detailed figures, patient numbers, or follow-up periods have been independently verified at this stage, according to the BMJ’s own framing of the story.

The cancer in question is melanoma (a type of skin cancer that can spread to other parts of the body if caught late). Personalised cancer vaccines work by analysing a patient’s tumour, identifying mutations unique to it, and then instructing the body’s immune system to recognise and attack those specific cancer cells. Each vaccine is built from scratch for one patient — which makes it a very different proposition from a standard off-the-shelf medicine, both in complexity and likely cost.

Phase 3 trial results, when they do arrive in full, will be examined by regulators including the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the UK before any treatment could be offered through the NHS. That process takes time. Patients in Kent who are currently being treated for melanoma or other skin cancers should speak to their clinical team about what treatments are available to them now.

Anyone with concerns about a skin change or mole should contact their GP in the first instance, or call NHS 111 for guidance.