A computer image mapping parts of the brain. Northwest Biotherapeutics, a US-based biotech company, has said it has won approval for commercial use of the world's first vaccine against brain cancer in Switzerland.[AFP]

The company, which is listed in London, intends to begin making DCVax-Brain available to patients before the end of September, according to a statement.

Under the Swiss approval plan, Northwest is able to manufacture the vaccine in the United States and make it available for the treatment of patients with brain cancer at select centres in Switzerland.

"We are delighted to be the first company to reach the market with a personalized therapeutic vaccine for brain cancers, which carry a very bleak prognosis for patients," said Alton Boynton, president and chief executive of Northwest Biotherapeutics.

"Switzerland is an attractive place to begin commercialisation, due to its highly respected regulatory oversight, and its growing experience with cellular therapies.

Boynton added: "We look forward to being able to bring DCVax-Brain to patients in additional countries, and to applying our DCVax technology to many other cancers."