QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

Australia Prepares World-First mRNA Vaccine Trial for Children with Aggressive Brain Tumors

- Australia is preparing to launch the world's first clinical trial of PaedNeoVax (PTX-108), a personalized mRNA vaccine for children with aggressive brain tumors, though a start date has not yet been set. - The vaccine uses small samples of a patient's tumor to engage T cells to detect and attack cancer markers on tumor cell surfaces, with the trial led clinically by Professor Jordan Hansford of SAHMRI and the University of Adelaide. - The federal government has supported PTX-108 development with a $2.58 million Medical Research Future Fund grant, while the family of 16-year-old Coby Metzler, diagnosed with diffuse midline glioma, is seeking compassionate access outside the trial. - Experts emphasize that clinical trials are necessary to establish the safety blueprint needed to protect children from potential harm, even as advocates call for faster access to experimental treatments.