An Iranian biotechnology researcher from Tehran University of Medical Sciences claims to have achieved a medical breakthrough.
Dr. Mohammad Hossein Yazdi and his team at the institution’s Biotechnology Research Center have pioneered what they say is an efficacious lung cancer vaccine.
It uses a combination of mRNA technology and artificial intelligence algorithms to create a custom-tailored shot for each patient who needs it. Yazdi has explained that it can be produced 90 per cent faster than traditional vaccines by using unique genetic data from a specific tumour and the power of AI.
Dr. Mohammad Hossein Yazdi. Photo credit: LinkedIn
Making a jab specifically crafted for a particular individual will only take a couple of weeks, the scientist claims.
“Unlike traditional methods that require extensive trial and error, this vaccine identifies the best candidate before entering clinical phases by relying on genetic data and AI predictions,” he said in an interview with Wana Iran.
According to the doctor, inaugural clinical trials on the vaccine will take two to three years despite the short production process. His ultimate goal is to launch the potentially game-changing product throughout the globe and help fight against one of the world’s deadliest diseases.
Regulatory approval is the primary challenge he will be facing.
Yazdi is an expert in advanced immunology, microbiology and vaccines. He completed his PhD thesis on the potential of vaccination for treating cancers. The Iranian medical professional is cited on Google Scholar hundreds of times.
The Tehran University of Medical Sciences is the oldest medical centre in the country. It is widely recognizes as Iran’s most prestigious medical university. It operates over 100 specialized research centres.
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Global lung cancer vaccine trial continues
Dr. Yazdi is not the first to develop a lung cancer vaccine using the same technology as the COVID shots produced by Pfizer Inc (NYSE: PFE) (ETR: PFE) and Moderna Inc (NASDAQ: MRNA) (ETR: 0QF).
Last year, the world’s first lung cancer vaccine trial commenced in the United Kingdom. A 67-year-old lung cancer patient agreed to receive a dose of BioNTech SE ADR‘s (NASDAQ: BNTX) (FRA: 22UA) “BNT116” shot to potentially help shrink his tumour and contribute to the medical field.
The multi-national study is currently underway and no major efficacy data has been released yet. Recruitment is ongoing in the UK, United States, Germany, Turkey, Spain, Hungary and Poland.
The emergence of mRNA technology has brought optimism for treating cancers with vaccines as attempts in past years have continuously failed. This new hope was the subject of an article published in Nature earlier this year.
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