Nat Geo Doc Follows Search for Cancer Vaccine

National Geographic has greenlit The Cancer Vaccine (w.t.), a new doc special about the fight to cure cancer.

The documentary follows Uğur Şahin and Özlem Türeci—the husband-and-wife team who built German biotechnology giant BioNTech and created the Pfizer BioNTech Covid-19 Vaccine—as they and their team race competitors, skeptics, governments and cancer itself to create an entirely new class of medicines that use the body’s own defenses to defeat cancer.

The Cancer Vaccine will take viewers to the frontlines of breakthrough science alongside the scientists, researchers and patients at the heart of this endeavor, culminating in a story of inspiration, heartbreak, suffering and joy.

The doc comes from Academy- and BAFTA-winning Oxford Films (Hilary and Jackie; Restoration; Diana, Our Mother) and is directed by BAFTA-winning filmmaker Patrick Forbes (The Phantom, Wikileaks: Secrets and Lies).

“The Cancer Vaccine will give viewers a front-row seat to one of the biggest events in history unfolding in real time—the scientists racing to find a potential cure for cancer,” said Tom McDonald, executive VP of global factual and unscripted content at National Geographic. “With unprecedented inside access, we are honored to be able to shine a light on the heroes—the scientists, patients and people, who are working to combat this disease that affects far too many of our friends, families and neighbors.”