Everything you need to know about new cancer ‘vaccine’ as experts weigh in

A world-first cancer vaccine could be in the hands of those with genetic indicators in the next five years, thanks to the pandemic

The world’s first vaccine for ovarian cancer is being developed in the UK with hopes to wipe out the disease worldwide. Dubbed OvarianVax, scientists at the University of Oxford are crafting the jab to help the immune system recognise and attack ovarian cancer in its earliest stages.

The preventative treatment is building on the significant progress in vaccinations that was made in response to the Covid pandemic. The researchers aim to create a treatment that could wipe out the disease and while they are optimistic about achieving their goal, earliest estimates claim it could be 5 years before an impact is seen.

Athena Lamnisos, CEO of gynaecological cancer research charity The Eve Appeal, explained to Reach the immense impact this vaccine could have, noting there’s a “huge need for progress” as there aren’t even any screening tests for ovarian cancer: “We are delighted to see Dr Ahmed Ahmed's work to develop a vaccine for ovarian cancer, it is early days, but if it is a success it could save thousands of lives every year.

“Ovarian cancer is the second most common gynae cancer and unfortunately only 35% of women survive ten years after their diagnosis. It is often diagnosed in the later stages as the symptoms show late and are often misdiagnosed as more common and less serious conditions.”

Valentina Milanova, a women's health expert and founder of gynaecological health company Daye, also praised the “incredibly exciting” innovation which she believes is at last making true strides in bridging the historic gender bias in medical research. She told Reach, referring to women with genetic indicators for ovarian cancer: “Right now, these women are often advised to have their ovaries removed by age 35 to reduce cancer risk. This means going through early menopause and losing the ability to have biological children.

“A vaccine could offer a much less drastic option, allowing women to preserve their fertility and avoid the health impacts of early menopause, while still protecting against cancer. It's not just about preventing disease - it's about giving women more control over their bodies and their futures. It's a powerful reminder of why investing in women's health research is so crucial.”

Professor Ahmed Ahmed is leading the groundbreaking project, director of the ovarian cancer cell laboratory at MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine at the University of Oxford. The team is first working on identifying proteins in early-stage ovarian cancer that can be easily recognised by the immune system using mini-models in their lab before moving on to human trials with people that have a genetic risk of ovarian cancer, then finally trials with healthy women in the general population.

7,500 new cases are diagnosed in the UK every year and just over a third of women will survive for 10 years after getting the news. Roughly 4,100 women die from the disease every year in the UK and mainstream treatments vary but are largely limited to surgery, chemotherapy and hormone treatments.

There are still many years of work ahead before the vaccine will be widely available but experts are praising the milestone research as an “exciting step forwards”. Professor Ahmed shared: “I am optimistic because we are talking about preventing the very first few cancer cells that develop – and not trying to cure or treat or prevent the tumour coming back.”

The research is being funded by Cancer Research UK over the next UK and its chief executive, Michelle Mitchell, gushed: “This funding will power crucial discoveries in the lab which will realise our ambitions to improve ovarian cancer survival. OvarianVax builds on the exciting developments in vaccine technology during the pandemic.”