French oncology research advances through new funding and vaccine trials

French cancer research initiatives are advancing through new funding opportunities and clinical developments. The Institut national du cancer and the Direction générale de l’offre de soins have launched the 2025 call for projects for the PRT-K (Translational Research Program in Oncology). This program supports collaborative research between research laboratories and French healthcare institutions, focusing on areas such as biological mechanisms, prevention, early detection, and the development of new therapeutic strategies. The deadline for letters of intent is October 13, 2026.

In clinical developments, the Oncopole and biotech company Transgene are progressing with the TG4050 vaccine, an individualized treatment designed to prevent relapses in HPV-negative head and neck cancers. A phase 1/2 randomized clinical trial is currently evaluating the vaccine's immunogenicity and ability to maintain remission. Preliminary results published in Nature Communications indicate that after three years of follow-up, 16 patients who received the vaccine remained in clinical remission without recurrence, compared to three relapses in the observational group. Further immunogenicity data is expected in the second half of 2026.