Amazon teams up with Fred Hutchinson to launch cancer vaccine clinical trial

Fred Hutchinson is sponsoring the Phase 1 trial, while Amazon are contributing scientific and machine learning expertise

Amazon and Fred Hutchinson are currently in the process of recruiting 20 participants over the age of 18 for the Phase 1 trial, which will test the safety and efficacy of vaccines for the treatment of breast cancer and melanoma, according to a recent filing. The vaccine candidate is described as a ‘personalized neo-antigen peptide vaccine’ that combines multiple patient specific neo-antigens.  

The study began on June 9, 2022 and is expected to be complete by November 1, 2023. Fred Hutchinson is listed as the study’s sponsor, while Amazon is listed as a collaborator in the filing.  

Amazon and Fred Hutchinson have both confirmed the partnership.  

Speaking to CPHI, an Amazon spokesperson said the company would be contributing ‘scientific and machine learning expertise’ to the partnership. 

They continued: ‘It’s very early, but Fred Hutch recently received permission from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to proceed with a Phase I clinical trial, and it’s unclear whether it will be successful. This will be a long, multi-year process—should it progress, we would be open to working with other organizations in health care and life sciences that might also be interested in similar efforts.’ 

Fred Hutchinson added that ‘success is by no means guaranteed’ in a statement to CPHI.  

The collaboration is the latest attempt by Amazon to expand its healthcare offering and utilise the work done by its internal R&D teams. In 2020 the company launched an online pharmacy, called Amazon Pharmacy, and in 2021 expanded its telehealth service, Amazon Care. It has also explored the development of at-home medical diagnostics.