At a time when the country is facing its worst crisis raging war with Ukraine, Russia has announced the development of an mRNA cancer vaccine.
Set for distribution in early 2025, the vaccine will be offered to citizens free of charge. According to the government, it will bear the cost of 300,000 rubles (approximately USD 2,869) per dose.
The vaccine, which is tailored to individual patients, aims to treat cancer rather than prevent its onset, as reported by state-run media. Andrey Kaprin, head of the Radiology Medical Research Centre of Russia’s Ministry of Health, confirmed that the vaccine would be launched in early 2025.
Earlier, in his speech at the Future Technologies Forum in Moscow, Putin had declared that Russia is 'one step away' from developing vaccines for cancer, along with several other medical breakthroughs.
Alexander Gintsburg, Director of the Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, further elaborated on the use of artificial intelligence in personalising the vaccine.
"Now it takes quite a long time to build [personalised vaccines] because computing using a vaccine, or customised mRNA, should look like using matrix methods, in mathematical terms. We have involved the Ivannikov Institute, which will rely on AI in doing this math, namely neural network computing, where these procedures should take about half an hour to an hour," he said.
Although full details on the specific types of cancer the vaccine will target remain scarce, it is believed that the vaccine will be tailored to each individual. This approach is similar to efforts in Western countries, which are also exploring personalised cancer vaccines.
While no comprehensive information has yet been provided on the vaccine's effectiveness or distribution, it is a significant step in the fight against rising cancer rates in Russia, with over 635,000 new cases recorded in 2022. Colon, breast, and lung cancers are the most common types in the country.
The mRNA-based cancer vaccine uses parts of a patient's tumour to instruct the immune system to recognise and attack cancer cells.
This method involves the use of harmless antigens from cancer cells to stimulate an immune response.
The vaccine triggers the production of antibodies that help destroy the cancerous cells.
Russia’s efforts are part of a broader trend in cancer research, with other countries like the United States and the United Kingdom also testing personalised cancer vaccines.
In May, researchers at the University of Florida tested a personalised vaccine on patients with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, and observed a swift immune response.
In the UK, scientists are also trialling personalised vaccines for melanoma, with promising early results.
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