A personalised mRNA vaccine to treat melanoma has now reached late-stage trials in the UK. This is just the latest step in improving the cure rate of cancer.

This form of cancer therapy harnesses the power of the body’s immune system to target and eradicate cancer cells. During the phase 2 trials, the vaccine was shown to reduce the risk of cancer returning in people who were undergoing treatment for melanoma.

The phase 3 trials the vaccine is currently entering will recruit thousands of participants in order to better understand just how effective personalised mRNA vaccines are in treating melanoma.

Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, has been a formidable challenge for doctors due to its aggressive nature and tendency to spread. It’s usually caused by exposure to ultraviolet light – but in many cases we don’t fully understand why it occurs.