On Wednesday, President Vladimir Putin announced that Russian scientists are on the verge of developing vaccines for cancer, which could soon be accessible to patients. During a Moscow forum on future technologies, Putin stated that they are approaching the creation of cancer vaccines and new-generation immunomodulatory drugs. He expressed optimism that these advancements will be effectively employed as personalized therapy methods in the near future.
However, Putin did not provide specific details regarding the types of cancer the proposed vaccines would target or the mechanisms involved. Several countries and companies worldwide are actively engaged in cancer vaccine research. In the UK, the government collaborated with Germany-based BioNTech for clinical trials to offer personalized cancer treatments, with a goal to reach 10,000 patients by 2030. Additionally, pharmaceutical companies like Moderna and Merck & Co are working on experimental cancer vaccines, showing promising results in reducing recurrence or death from melanoma in mid-stage studies.
While there are already licensed vaccines against human papillomaviruses (HPV) and hepatitis B (HBV), which can lead to various cancers, Russia’s announcement suggests a new approach to cancer treatment. It is noteworthy that Russia, amidst the global COVID-19 pandemic, successfully developed and distributed the Sputnik V vaccine, though facing public reluctance domestically.
