Athens, Greece. A Phase 3 international trial of a pioneering mRNA therapeutic cancer vaccine for advanced lung cancer is underway, with Agios Savvas Hospital ranking second worldwide for patient recruitment. The trial targets patients with non-small cell lung cancer who no longer respond to standard immunotherapy.
Phase 3 trial and aims
Alexandros Ardavanis, director and scientific lead of the First Department of Medical Oncology at Agios Savvas Hospital, said the randomised Phase 3 trial focuses on re-energising the body’s immune response after standard immunotherapy stops working. Ardavanis said preliminary data suggests survival rates could be further extended in advanced cases.
Timeline and participation
Ardavanis said the trial began nine months ago and is expected to conclude by 2028. Twelve Greek centres are participating, including eight in the public sector, as part of the global effort to evolve immunotherapy.
Certification and expanded access
The rise in clinical trials follows the certification of Agios Savvas as Greece’s first Comprehensive Cancer Center. Founded in 1935 as the country’s first dedicated cancer facility, the hospital received a state funding boost last year to secure the status, which has expanded patient access to new medicines.
Outlook for mRNA technology in cancer care
Ardavanis said it is still early to measure the full impact of mRNA technology on malignancies, while adding that current results provide extreme optimism for the future of cancer care.
What do you think the expanded access to clinical trials could mean for patients with advanced lung cancer in Greece?