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Personalized treatment is expected to begin “within months,” according to the Gamaleya Center chief
Russia’s first patients could begin receiving a newly developed cancer vaccine within the next few months, Alexander Gintsburg, director of the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, has announced. The breakthrough drug is a personalized, AI-assisted, mRNA-based vaccine designed to target malignant tumors using the patient’s own genetic data.
Speaking to RIA Novosti on Saturday, Gintsburg confirmed that the experimental phase of administering the vaccine will start “in the coming months,” in cooperation with two leading oncology institutions – the Hertsen Research Institute and the Blokhin Cancer Center in Moscow. According to Gintsburg, the Gamaleya Center is responsible for producing the vaccine, while patient trials will be conducted by the partnering clinics.
“In accordance with the plan approved by the Health Ministry, we are preparing to begin experimental treatment using the cancer vaccine based on neoantigens in a group of melanoma patients,” Gintsburg said. He emphasized that the drug is “entirely personalized,” created specifically for each patient using their unique tumor data, and cannot be used for anyone else.
The development of the vaccine began in mid-2022 and applies messenger RNA (mRNA) technology. The treatment works by training the patient’s immune system to recognize tumor-specific proteins (antigens) and destroy malignant cells throughout the body using cytotoxic lymphocytes.
Due to its individualized nature, the cancer vaccine is subject to a unique regulatory framework adopted by the Russian government earlier this year. “This is a fundamentally different process from the registration of standard drugs,” Gintsburg explained, noting that the team is working closely with health authorities to move forward under the new guidelines.
The vaccine, initially designed for melanoma patients, has already shown promising results in animal trials and limited tests on human patients. Gintsburg previously stated that the entire production process – from analyzing the tumor to creating a tailored vaccine – can be completed in about a week with the help of artificial intelligence.
The Gamaleya Center, which created the world’s first registrede Covid-19 vaccine, Sputnik V, is also currently developing models for treating other oncological diseases, including pancreatic, kidney, and non-small-cell lung cancer – the most frequently diagnosed cancer with the highest mortality rate and one that is notoriously difficult to treat.
Russia’s Health Ministry estimates there are around 4 million cancer patients in the country, with roughly 625,000 new cases diagnosed annually. The cancer vaccine project could become a major milestone in Russia’s public health strategy if it proves safe and effective during the upcoming trial phase. The innovation has attracted international interest, with Gintsburg confirming that several foreign medical institutions have reached out to express a desire to collaborate.
