A world-first clinical trial is set to begin testing LungVax, an experimental vaccine designed to prevent lung cancer in people at high risk. Developed by researchers at the University of Oxford and UCL, LungVax could mark a major step forward in tackling the UK’s deadliest cancer, responsible for 20% of all cancer deaths.

Lung cancer is notoriously hard to detect early, and only 1 in 10 people survive for 10 years or more. LungVax aims to change this by training the immune system to recognise and eliminate abnormal lung cells before they turn cancerous.

“LungVax is our chance to do something to actively prevent this disease.”
— Professor Sarah Blagden, University of Oxford

How LungVax Works

Using similar technology to the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, LungVax delivers genetic instructions that help the immune system spot “red flag” neoantigens — proteins found on cells beginning to undergo cancer-causing changes. By acting early, the vaccine aims to stop cancer before it forms.

About the Trial

Backed by £2.06 million from Cancer Research UK and the CRIS Cancer Foundation, the four-year Phase 1 trial is expected to begin in summer 2026. It will focus on people at high risk of lung cancer, including:

Researchers will assess the optimal dose, immune response, and potential side effects.

“Change will come from targeting lung cancer at the earliest stages.”
— Professor Mariam Jamal-Hanjani, UCL, Trial Lead

Rosetrees’ Role in Making LungVax Possible

LungVax builds directly on discoveries from TRACERx, a landmark study mapping how lung cancers develop — research that Rosetrees has supported for over a decade. Insights from TRACERx pinpointed the early genetic changes the vaccine needs to target.

In 2023, Rosetrees helped support the pre-clinical work that turned those insights into a vaccine and tested it in the lab. The results showed that LungVax could activate the immune system, paving the way for the upcoming trial.

A New Frontier for Cancer Prevention

LungVax is still at an early stage, but it represents an exciting new frontier: vaccines that prevent cancer by targeting precancerous cells.

“We’re taking the first steps towards a world where more cancers are prevented.”
— Michelle Mitchell, CRUK Chief Executive

Rosetrees is delighted to have supported the research journey leading to this milestone and will continue championing innovative science that has the potential to save lives.