The AHEAD-MERIT trial will take place in 15 hospitals, targeting patients with aggressive HPV-associated cancers with an innovative vaccine.

The AHEAD-MERIT clinical trial will take place in 15 hospitals in England, targeting patients with aggressive human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancers. These cancers have high rates of recurrence and poor survival. The vaccine being developed targets proteins commonly found in HPV-associated head and neck cancer. The health secretary declared the initiative a "huge victory" and NHS England is working with BioNTech to identify eligible patients. This is the third trial under the NHS Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad, which has already supported 550 patients.