Updated: 5 days ago
Medically reviewed by Dr. Wang, Medical Editor, ChinaCureLink
Key Takeaways |
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Introduction
Cancer vaccines are no longer a distant promise in China. While most countries are still waiting for their first therapeutic cancer vaccine, patients in China can already receive a personalised DC vaccine made from their own tumour antigens, and a wave of homegrown mRNA vaccines is showing early results in patients who had run out of options.
This guide explains which cancer vaccines are available in China in 2026, which are in clinical trials, who is eligible, what they cost and how international patients can access them.
Does China Have a Cancer Vaccine?
Yes. China already offers personalised therapeutic cancer vaccines, which train the immune system to attack a cancer the patient already has, outside clinical trials. Two dendritic cell (DC) vaccines, Neo-DCAct™ and LANEX-DC®, are approved for use in the Boao Lecheng pilot zone, and a wave of personalised and off-the-shelf mRNA vaccines is in clinical trials at leading Chinese cancer hospitals.
China's scale is drawing global attention. More than 100 cancer vaccine programmes are under development in China, and in August 2026 Moderna's chief executive warned that China is investing heavily in mRNA technology to challenge the United States in personalised cancer treatment.
Table of Content
China's Cancer Vaccines at a Glance
Vaccine | Type | Cancer | Status in China (2026) | How to access |
Neo-DCAct™ (West China Hospital) | Personalised neoantigen mRNA-DC | Lung, oesophageal, liver, gastric, colorectal, pancreatic, cervical and other solid tumours | Approved for use in Boao Lecheng pilot zone; first patient treated April 2025 | West China Lecheng Hospital, self-pay |
LANEX-DC® (LDG Laboratories, Germany) | Autologous DC | Advanced pancreatic and colorectal cancer | Approved for use in Boao Lecheng pilot zone | Boao Super Hospital, self-pay |
EVM16 (Everest Medicines) | Personalised mRNA | Advanced solid tumours | First-in-human trial, moving to phase 1b | Clinical trial |
LK101 (Likang Life Sciences) | Personalised mRNA-DC | Advanced solid tumours | Phase 1, cleared by NMPA (2023) and FDA (2025) | Clinical trial |
EVM14 (Everest Medicines) | Off-the-shelf mRNA | Lung and head and neck cancers | Phase 1/2a, cleared in China and US | Clinical trial |
Therapeutic Cancer Vaccines in China
China is one of the few countries where patients can already receive a personalised therapeutic cancer vaccine outside a clinical trial. Two dendritic cell (DC) vaccines are approved for use in the Boao Lecheng pilot zone, and Chinese companies are testing the next generation of mRNA vaccines in leading cancer hospitals in Beijing and Shanghai.
Two Approved DC Vaccines in Boao Lecheng
Both vaccines are approved under the Boao Lecheng pilot programme for innovative biomedical technologies in Hainan, which lets selected hospitals use advanced therapies before nationwide approval.
Dendritic cells are the immune system's messengers. A DC vaccine collects the patient's own dendritic cells, trains them to recognise the patient's cancer in the lab, then returns them to the body to activate T cells against the tumour. Each vaccine is made for one patient only.
Neo-DCAct™ Personalised Neoantigen DC Vaccine at West China Lecheng Hospital
Neo-DCAct™ is given at West China Lecheng Hospital (Hainan Haikong Le City Hospital), the Boao branch of West China Hospital, Sichuan University. It grew out of research by Academician Wei Yuquan's team at the State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy at West China Hospital.
The patient's dendritic cells are loaded with mRNA that carries their own tumour neoantigens, the mutations found only in their cancer. The vaccine is registered for two situations:
after surgery to remove a solid tumour, to consolidate treatment and lower the risk of recurrence;
after standard systemic treatment for locally advanced or inoperable solid tumours.
Registered tumour types are lung cancer, oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma, liver cancer, gastric adenocarcinoma, colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer and cervical cancer. Use has since extended to other solid tumours, including melanoma, breast cancer, urothelial carcinoma, ovarian cancer and nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
In early investigator-initiated studies, the vaccine was well tolerated, with no vaccine-related side effects of grade 3 or higher, and some groups of patients showed signs of a lower risk of recurrence. More detail is in ChinaCureLink's personalised DC vaccine therapy guide.
The programme is led by Professor Wang Yongsheng, Deputy Director of the Cancer Center at West China Hospital and a former visiting scholar at Duke University. He chairs the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association's committee on novel anti-tumour drug research and has led more than 20 phase 1 to 3 cancer drug trials.
Case Study: The First Patient Treated in Boao
In April 2025, West China Lecheng Hospital gave Neo-DCAct™ to its first patient, who was recovering from lung cancer surgery. The vaccine was designed from the mutations in the patient's own tumour and given to help the immune system recognise and clear any cancer cells left after the operation.
LANEX-DC® Autologous DC Vaccine at Boao Super Hospital
LANEX-DC® is a German DC vaccine invented by Prof. Dr. med. Frank Gansauge, founder and medical director of LDG Laboratories, who has spent 22 years developing DC vaccines and published more than 150 medical papers. It is made under EU good manufacturing practice (GMP) standards and is used for several solid tumours in Europe.
In Boao Lecheng, LANEX-DC® is approved for advanced pancreatic cancer and advanced colorectal cancer, and is given only at Boao Super Hospital. A course is usually 2 to 3 doses for colorectal cancer and 5 doses for pancreatic cancer.
Each patient is assessed by a multidisciplinary team:
Prof. Dr. Frank Gansauge, chief technical advisor, joins remote team reviews and checks treatment plans and quality.
Academician Wang Yuzhu (Canadian Academy of Health Sciences), Director of the International Center for Precision Oncology at Boao Super Hospital, leads clinical assessment, combined treatment planning and follow-up.
Professor Xiang Chunsheng, a former senior investigator at the US National Institutes of Health, runs the hospital's cell manufacturing platform and quality control.
Case Study: LANEX-DC® Results in Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancer is one of the hardest cancers to treat, which makes these results stand out:
After surgery: 28 patients who had their pancreatic tumour removed received LANEX-DC® as follow-up treatment. Median overall survival reached 29.4 months, with 39.3% alive at 3 years and 17.9% at 5 years. Side effects were mostly mild, flu-like symptoms on the day of infusion, and there were no serious vaccine-related side effects.
Advanced disease: in 200 patients with advanced pancreatic cancer treated in Germany, those who completed two or more cycles lived a median of 17.5 months, against 7.4 months for patients who had one cycle. Starting treatment soon after diagnosis was also linked to longer survival.
Personalised mRNA Vaccines: EVM16 and LK101
Personalised mRNA vaccines use genetic instructions, based on mutations found only in the patient's tumour, to train the immune system. It is the same approach behind the Moderna and Merck vaccine that met its main goal in a phase 3 melanoma trial in August 2026.
China's leading candidate is EVM16 from Everest Medicines. Its first-in-human trial, run at Peking University Cancer Hospital and Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, enrolled 9 patients with advanced solid tumours whose standard treatment had failed. Patients received EVM16 alone, then combined with the PD-1 immunotherapy drug tislelizumab.
8 of 9 patients developed strong T-cell responses against their own tumour mutations.
No dose-limiting toxicities occurred, and all side effects were mild to moderate (grade 2 or lower) and resolved on their own.
EVM16 is now moving into a larger phase 1b study.
LK101 from Likang Life Sciences loads mRNA encoding each patient's tumour neoantigens into their own dendritic cells. It was the first personalised neoantigen mRNA DC vaccine cleared by China's drug regulator (NMPA) for clinical trials, and it received US FDA clearance in 2025.
Its multi-centre phase 1 trial (CTR20232018 / NCT06054932) for advanced solid tumours runs at Peking University Cancer Hospital and the National Cancer Center / Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Cancer Hospital. The investigators include Professor Wang Jie, Director of the Lung Cancer Center at the National Cancer Center, and Professor Shen Lin, Director of Gastrointestinal Oncology at Peking University Cancer Hospital. Public reports describe LK101 as well tolerated, with signs of anti-tumour activity.
In 2026, Likang is opening an AI-powered production line in Beijing's Economic and Technological Development Zone, backed by an investment of about US$16 million (110 million yuan). The company says AI can now identify a patient's tumour mutations in one day, shortening the wait for a personalised vaccine.
Case Study: A Partial Response After Three Failed Treatments
One of the first patients treated with EVM16 had gastroesophageal junction cancer that had progressed through three earlier lines of treatment. After receiving the personalised mRNA vaccine with tislelizumab, the patient had a confirmed partial response, meaning the tumour shrank significantly, and the cancer did not progress for 126 days.
Two other patients in the study had stable disease. A patient with oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma, also after three earlier treatment lines, had no progression at 112 days of follow-up.
For patients with stomach and gastroesophageal cancers, ChinaCureLink's guide to recurrent stomach cancer treatment options covers other approved options.
Case Study: Advanced Ovarian Cancer in Complete Remission
In October 2016, the mother of Chen Li, now founder of Likang Life Sciences, was diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer. Standard treatment was not working well, and her options were running out.
Chen, then a PhD student in tumour immunology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, built a personalised treatment for her. His team used an AI tool to predict the unique targets in her tumour, confirmed them in the lab, then used mRNA to load those targets into her own dendritic cells before returning the cells to her body. She also received a personalised tumour vaccine and tumour-specific T-cell therapy.
Her tumour markers and scans later showed no sign of the tumour, and she was reported to be in complete remission. The same approach became LK101, which Likang first tested in a 2018 study with the Chinese PLA General Hospital in patients with liver cancer after surgery: immune responses against each patient's own cancer mutations were detected in every patient treated.
Off-the-Shelf mRNA Vaccines in Trials
Off-the-shelf vaccines target antigens shared by many patients, so they can be made in advance and given without waiting for tumour sequencing. China's pipeline includes:
EVM14 (Everest Medicines): targets common tumour antigens in lung and head and neck cancers; in a global phase 1/2a trial with pembrolizumab, cleared in China and the US.
WGc-043 (WestGene): targets Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) proteins in EBV-positive cancers such as nasopharyngeal carcinoma and NK/T-cell lymphoma; phase 1 cleared by the NMPA and the US FDA in 2024.
ABO2102 (Abogen) and RGL-232 (Ruihongdi): target KRAS mutations common in pancreatic, colorectal and lung cancers; phase 1.
SYS6026 (CSPC): targets HPV16 and HPV18 proteins in high-grade cervical lesions; phase 2.
AK154 (Akeso): entered phase 1 in 2025 for pancreatic cancer after surgery.
Who Is Eligible?
For Neo-DCAct™ at West China Lecheng Hospital, candidates generally need:
surgical tumour tissue from the past two years, or a new biopsy or surgical sample of the solid tumour;
no more than two previous lines of systemic treatment;
stable disease, with expected survival longer than the vaccine manufacturing time;
stable general health (ECOG performance status) and organ function.
Patients are not suitable if they have an active autoimmune disease or viral infection, severe immunodeficiency, no usable tumour tissue, a rapidly progressing tumour, or are pregnant or breastfeeding.
For LANEX-DC® at Boao Super Hospital, candidates generally need:
advanced pancreatic or colorectal cancer confirmed by pathology;
stable general health (ECOG performance status) and stable blood counts, liver and kidney function;
veins suitable for blood collection.
Patients are not suitable if they have an active autoimmune disease or infection, long-term high-dose steroids or immunosuppressants, severe liver or kidney failure, cannot attend follow-up, or are pregnant or breastfeeding.
For mRNA vaccine trials such as LK101 and EVM16, candidates generally need:
age 18 or older, with an advanced solid tumour confirmed by pathology;
tumour tissue suitable for genetic sequencing;
good general health (ECOG 0 to 1) and expected survival of at least 3 months;
for EVM16, standard treatment that has failed and at least one tumour that can be measured on a scan.
Uncontrolled brain metastases, a previous donor stem cell transplant or long-term immunosuppressive treatment usually rule patients out.
Each trial has its own criteria, including whether it can enrol foreign patients. ChinaCureLink's guide on how to join a cancer clinical trial in China explains the screening process.
How International Patients Can Access It
Through ChinaCureLink (dedicated international patient pathway): after a free advisory call, ChinaCureLink compares up to three suitable hospitals, including the Boao Lecheng hospitals approved for DC vaccines, and coordinates the rest of the journey for the patient.
Directly through the hospitals in Boao Lecheng: patients can submit their records to the international departments of West China Lecheng Hospital (Neo-DCAct™) or Boao Super Hospital (LANEX-DC®) for review.
Through a clinical trial site: patients can contact the investigators at trial hospitals such as Peking University Cancer Hospital, the National Cancer Center in Beijing or Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, subject to each trial's enrolment rules.
What to Keep in Mind
The DC vaccines are approved for use within the Boao Lecheng pilot zone, not for nationwide prescription in China.
Neo-DCAct™ is used as real-world clinical practice under the pilot policy; large phase 3 trial data are not yet available.
LANEX-DC® is made under EU GMP standards but is not a centrally authorised medicine of the European Medicines Agency.
Full phase 1 data for LK101 have not yet been published, and the mRNA vaccines above are still in early trials with small groups of patients.
Cancer vaccines work alongside standard treatment and do not replace surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or immunotherapy.
How Much Does a Cancer Vaccine Cost in China?
Vaccine | Cost | Course |
Neo-DCAct™ (West China Lecheng Hospital) | About US$22,200 (150,000 yuan) per dose; about US$155,600 (1,050,000 yuan) for a standard course | 7 doses |
LANEX-DC® (Boao Super Hospital) | About US$57,500 (388,000 yuan) for the first 2 doses | Usually 2 to 3 doses for colorectal cancer, 5 for pancreatic cancer |
mRNA vaccine trials (EVM16, LK101 and others) | Set by each trial | Confirm what is covered with the trial team before travelling |
Patients should confirm the full treatment plan and total cost with the hospital before travelling. ChinaCureLink's guides on travelling to China for medical treatment and the China medical visa cover the other costs of the trip.
How ChinaCureLink Can Help
The safest way to access a cancer vaccine in China is to contact Chinese hospitals directly through a trusted facilitator who works for the patient. ChinaCureLink represents the patient, not a specific hospital, and does not charge fees to apply to hospitals; only on-site support carries a moderate fee.
After a free advisory call, ChinaCureLink identifies and compares up to three suitable hospitals or specialists, such as the Boao Lecheng hospitals offering DC vaccines or a centre running an mRNA vaccine trial. Once the patient chooses, ChinaCureLink arranges a video second opinion with that specialist. If the patient decides to proceed, ChinaCureLink coordinates the appointment, medical records and translation, hospital communication, treatment planning, travel and in-China support. More detail is in how ChinaCureLink matches each case to a hospital.
Questions about cancer vaccine options in China? Chat with the ChinaCureLink team on WhatsApp.
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Get a Second Opinion Before Fly to China
For suitable cases, ChinaCureLink can then coordinate an online consultation with the specialist to discuss the technical treatment details directly. The purpose is to help the patient understand which treatment option and which specialist center may be most appropriate before making an international treatment decision.
What Patients Say About ChinaCureLink & Medebound HEALTH
China CureLink operates under Medebound HEALTH — an internationally recognized healthcare navigation company incorporated in New York, with operations across North America and Asia-Pacific.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does China Have an Approved Cancer Vaccine?
Yes. Two personalised therapeutic DC cancer vaccines, Neo-DCAct™ and LANEX-DC®, are approved for use in the Boao Lecheng pilot zone in Hainan. Personalised and off-the-shelf mRNA cancer vaccines, including EVM16, LK101 and EVM14, are in clinical trials.
Can Foreigners Get a Cancer Vaccine in China?
Yes. International patients can apply for Neo-DCAct™ at West China Lecheng Hospital or LANEX-DC® at Boao Super Hospital after a review of their medical records and an assessment by the hospital's medical team. Some mRNA vaccine trials may also accept foreign patients, depending on each trial's rules.
How Much Is the Cancer Vaccine in China?
Neo-DCAct™ costs about US$22,200 (150,000 yuan) per dose, with a standard course of 7 doses. LANEX-DC® costs about US$57,500 (388,000 yuan) for the first 2 doses. Both are self-pay, and consultation, tests, hospital stay and travel may cost extra.
Which Cancers Can the Chinese Cancer Vaccines Treat?
Neo-DCAct™ is registered for lung, oesophageal, liver, gastric, colorectal, pancreatic and cervical cancers, and is also used for other solid tumours. LANEX-DC® is approved in Boao for advanced pancreatic and colorectal cancer. mRNA vaccines in Chinese trials are being tested in advanced solid tumours, including gastroesophageal, lung, head and neck and EBV-positive cancers such as nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Is China Approving Russia's Enteromix Cancer Vaccine?
There is no confirmation from China's National Medical Products Administration that Enteromix is under review or approved. The claim spread through social media and news sites without an official source.
Is a Cancer Vaccine a Cure for Cancer?
No cancer vaccine is a guaranteed cure. Therapeutic cancer vaccines train the immune system to recognise and attack an existing cancer, and they are used alongside standard treatment such as surgery, chemotherapy or immunotherapy.
About ChinaCureLink
ChinaCureLink helps patients across the world access the best cancer treatment at China's top hospitals, without the delays, language barriers, and administrative confusion that typically come with seeking care abroad.
We connect patients directly with China's top cancer hospitals, ensuring that from the first case submission through to treatment and follow-up, every step is guided, translated, and coordinated by a team experienced in cross-border patient care.
ChinaCureLink is proudly affiliated with Medebound HEALTH — founded by US physicians, with over 10 years of experience and more than 3,000 patients served worldwide, Medebound HEALTH is recognized by Forbes and it is one of the most trusted patient cross-border concierge service company across North America and the Asia Pacific.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical or financial advice. Treatment eligibility, protocols, and costs vary by individual case — confirm specifics with a coordinator and treating physician before making any decisions.
References
ChinaCureLink. Personalised DC Vaccine Therapy for Malignant Tumours in China: 2026 International Patient Guide. https://www.chinacurelink.com/post/dc-vaccine-therapy-china
West China Hospital, Sichuan University. Personalised DC vaccine therapy for malignancies, West China Lecheng Hospital (official website).
Gansauge F, et al. LANEX-DC adjuvant therapy after curative resection of pancreatic cancer. Archives of Cancer Science and Therapy, 2022.
Gansauge F, Poch B. Dendritic cell therapy in the palliative treatment of pancreatic cancer patients: experience in 200 patients. Medical Research Archives, 2022. https://esmed.org/MRA/mra/article/view/3431
Chinese Clinical Trial Registry / ClinicalTrials.gov. LK101 injection in advanced solid tumours (CTR20232018 / NCT06054932). https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06054932
Capital Civilization Office, Beijing. Chen Li: Immunotherapy brings new hope to cancer treatment (Beijing Role Models), 2024. https://www.bjwmb.gov.cn/bjby/pxbd/2024/09/01/10080243.html
BioSpace. China's first personalized neoantigen-targeted cancer vaccine receives NMPA's clinical trial approval, 2023. https://www.biospace.com/china-s-first-personalized-neoantigen-targeted-cancer-vaccine-receives-nmpa-s-clinical-trial-approval
South China Morning Post. China's first AI-powered cancer vaccine production line set to launch in Beijing, 2026. https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3358689/chinas-first-ai-powered-cancer-vaccine-production-line-set-launch-beijing
South China Morning Post. China rushes to develop Moderna-style cancer vaccines amid market frenzy, 2026. https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3365261/china-rushes-develop-moderna-style-cancer-vaccines-amid-market-frenzy
MedTech Spectrum. Everest Medicines announces positive first-in-human data for personalised mRNA cancer vaccine EVM16 at AACR 2026. https://www.medtechspectrum.com/news/65/25482/everest-medicines-announces-positive-first-in-human-data-for-personalised-mrna-cancer-vaccine-evm16-at-aacr-2026.html
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Patsnap Synapse. WestGene to progress clinical trials after dual IND approvals for first EB virus-linked mRNA cancer vaccine, 2024. https://synapse.patsnap.com/article/westgene-to-progress-clinical-trials-after-dual-ind-approvals-for-first-eb-virus-linked-mrna-cancer-vaccine
Fox Business. Moderna CEO warns China is investing heavily in mRNA, 2026. https://www.foxbusiness.com/healthcare/moderna-ceo-warns-china-investing-heavily-mrna-beijing-challenges-us-biotechnology
