A PIONEERING British cancer jab that uses the cold sore virus to destroy tumours is expected to be available on the NHS within months
It will be the first tumour-busting virus and experts believe it will be a game changer in cancer treatment.
They predict the technique, invented by Imperial College researchers in London, will save thousands of lives.
The drug will also spare patients the brutal side effects of existing options such as chemotherapy.
The drug, Imlygic, has so far shown positive results in melanoma, one of the deadliest cancers.
The results of large-scale trials have just been published and showed that more than a quarter of patients saw
their tumours shrink and for almost a fifth this response was “durable” – lasting more than six months.
He added that the drug was likely to be used for a range of other cancers once trials had been completed.
He said: “This is a completely new way of treating cancer and could transform the way we treat many patients.
“I am very optimistic we will see this particular vaccine licensed for other cancers such as breast and bowel. It has so much potential.”
It works by introducing a specially modified form of the herpes virus by injection directly into a tumour.
Although the drug has yet to be passed by British authorities, experts are expecting it will soon be approved for use both in the UK and on the continent after it was recently approved in America and also given a favourable vote by the European drug authorities.
Professor Harrington said: “It has received a favourable opinion by the European Medicines Agency and it would be very unusually for it not to be approved for use by our drug authorities after this.”
Regulatory authorities across the world were alerted to the drug following the results of global trials on 439 advanced stage melanoma patients whose disease had spread.
Scientists developed the treatment by removing genes from the virus and replacing them with human genes that jump start the bodies immune system
http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/...NHS-ICL-London
One step closer to cancer cure
And don't derail my thread
Yes! 
wow
