Business Medical English 

Here are the correct matches for the words and sentences: 

A. efficacy: a new drug shows a 90% reduction in blood pressure in a clinical trial.

B. effectiveness: the same drug reduces blood pressure by 70% on average in real-world patients, considering factors like adherence and comorbidities.

C. efficiency: a healthcare system that delivers quality care while minimising costs and reducing wait times.

Here are the correct matches for the terms and definitions: 

1. advancement: D
   Explanation: 'Advancement' refers to a development or improvement, such as a new treatment representing an advancement in patient care.

2. recurrence: F
   Explanation: 'recurrence' specifically denotes something happening again, often used in the context of a disease returning after a period of remission.

3. groundbreaking: J
   Explanation: 'groundbreaking' describes something that is highly innovative and original, often establishing a completely new approach in its field.

4. novel: B
   Explanation: 'novel' refers to something that is new and interestingly unusual, such as a novel mechanism of action for a drug.

5. transformative: H
   Explanation: 'transformative' is used for something that causes a significant and fundamental change, for example a therapy that transforms patient outcomes.

6. enrol: G
   Explanation: 'enrol' means to officially register or join something, most commonly used in our industry for patients joining a clinical trial.

7. eradicate: C
   Explanation: 'eradicate' means to destroy completely, a term often used with the goal to eradicate a disease.

8. survival: A
   Explanation: 'survival' simply means the state of continuing to live or exist, frequently measured in clinical trials as overall survival.

9. pioneered: E
   Explanation: 'pioneered' indicates that an individual or company was the first to develop or use a specific method or technology.

10. cutting-edge: I
    Explanation: 'cutting-edge' describes something that is at the absolute forefront of technological or scientific development.

Here are the correct prepositions:

1. All clinical sites must adhere strictly to the agreed standard-of-care protocols.

2. The new compound has demonstrated high levels of effectiveness in studies.

3. Headaches and nausea are common adverse events associated with this treatment.

4. The development of the vaccine was the result of a collaboration between our company and a leading research institute.

5. This new therapy is indicated for patients presenting with moderate to severe symptoms.

In a significant advancement for the field of oncology, a groundbreaking Phase I/II clinical trial is currently underway to evaluate a novel mRNA-based cancer vaccine for patients presenting with advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. This strategic initiative is a collaboration between the National Health Service (NHS), the publicly funded healthcare system of the United Kingdom, and a life sciences company BioNTech. It is designed to streamline patient recruitment and accelerate trial timelines. The trial, known as AHEAD-MERIT (BNT113-01), aims to enrol a patient cohort of over 100 individuals across 15 NHS hospitals in England.

The therapeutic modality employs messenger RNA technology to elicit a targeted immune response. It specifically instructs the patient's immune system to recognise and eradicate cancer cells that express two proteins associated with the human papillomavirus (HPV-16). This viral strain is a key driver of approximately 95% of HPV-related head and neck cancers. Given that advanced-stage cases often have a high rate of recurrence and a prognosis of less than 50% two-year survival, this vaccine represents a potentially transformative intervention.

The NHS has pioneered the "Cancer vaccine launch pad", a platform designed to efficiently match eligible patients with cutting-edge vaccine trials. This innovative approach has already demonstrated its effectiveness in studies for other cancer types, significantly expediting patient access to investigational therapies. Stakeholders are optimistic that this latest trial will provide a renewed sense of hope and establish a viable alternative to existing standard-of-care protocols.

While mRNA cancer vaccine research advances in the UK, concerns have emerged in the US. Recent cancellations of federal contracts for mRNA infectious disease projects by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have raised concerns about potential spillover effects on oncology research. Though not a direct game-stopper, experts warn that disruptions to shared infrastructure and talent pools, critical for both infectious disease and cancer studies, could delay breakthroughs in cancer treatment. This contrast highlights how regulatory and funding decisions directly affect the pace of medical innovation.

References

1. NHS England: "NHS to fast-track patients with head and neck cancer into cancer vaccine trial" (https://www.england.nhs.uk/2025/08/nhs-to-fast-track-patients-with-head-and-neck-cancer-into-cancer-vaccine-trial/)
2. NIHR: "Patients fast-tracked into new vaccine trial for head and neck cancers" (https://www.nihr.ac.uk/news/patients-fast-tracked-new-vaccine-trial-head-and-neck-cancers)
3. The Pharmaceutical Journal: "Patients with head and neck cancer to be fast-tracked into NHS vaccine trial" (https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/article/news/patients-with-head-and-neck-cancer-to-be-fast-tracked-into-nhs-vaccine-trial)
4. Innovation News Network: "NHS fast-tracks mRNA vaccine trial for advanced head and neck cancer patients" (https://www.innovationnewsnetwork.com/nhs-fast-tracks-mrna-vaccine-trial-for-head-and-neck-cancer/60626/)
5. BBC News: “RFK Jr cancels $500m funding in mRNA vaccine developments” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pfB3411JNg)

Here are the correct answers with explanations:

1. False. The trial is designed to test a vaccine that instructs the immune system to fight cancer cells, not a drug that directly shrinks tumours.

2. True. The text states that this strategic initiative "is designed to streamline patient recruitment and accelerate trial timelines”.

3. False. The text states that it was the NHS which has pioneered the "Cancer vaccine launch pad".

4. False. The text warns that disruptions to shared infrastructure and talent pools could delay breakthroughs in cancer treatment.

Here are the correct answers with explanations:

1- B

A. is incorrect: the text clarifies that the decision "does not directly halt all oncology research."

B. is the correct answer: the text explicitly states that "experts have expressed concern about a potential chilling effect" and that "the shared infrastructure and talent pool... could face indirect disruptions, potentially impacting the speed of development for cancer treatments."

C. is incorrect: while the text mentions that contracts for infectious disease projects were cancelled, the experts' specific concern highlighted in the passage is the negative knock-on effect this will have on oncology research, not the overall funding policy.

2- A

A. is correct: the text directly states that the viral strain HPV-16 "is a key driver of approximately 95% of HPV-related head and neck cancers."

B. is incorrect: the text specifies it is a driver of HPV-related cancers, not all head and neck cancers, and the figure is approximately 95%, not 100%.

C. is incorrect: the text links the high recurrence rate to advanced-stage cases in general, but it doesn't state that HPV-16 is the direct cause of this recurrence rate.

3- A

A. is correct:  in the context of the passage, "spillover effects" means problems in one area (infectious disease) could spread and harm another (oncology) by disrupting shared infrastructure and talent pools

B. is incorrect: it misinterprets the meaning of "spillover" by suggesting a positive transfer of resources, which is the opposite of the context

C. is incorrect: it suggests a positive transfer of benefits, which is not what the passage is about

4 - A

A. is correct:  the cancellations of federal contracts are the potential "game-stopper," but the author clarifies they will not completely stop progress

B. is incorrect because the HHS is the organisation that made the cancellations; it is not the event (“game-stopper”) itself

C. is incorrect because the spillover effects are the result of the cancellations, not the "game-stopper" itself

Suggested rephrased statements:

A. I'm not entirely sure.

B. The situation is a bit tricky.

C. I would suggest…

D. That's certainly one way to do it.