Russia completed early-stage testing of anti-cancer drug

The information was stated by the Institute of Chemical Biology and Basic Medicine (ICBFM) on October 23. Cancer medicine based on genetically modified oncolytic virus, jointly researched by experts from ICBFM, Vector Center and Oncostar LLC Biological Company. The volunteers participating in the trial are all end-stage cancer patients.

The goal of the early-phase trial is to confirm the drug’s safety and effectiveness in preventing breast cancer tumor growth. Scientists evaluated the tolerability and pharmacokinetic parameters of the product. Volunteers are injected with the drug once, then the doctor will monitor the body’s response to subsequent injections.

The drug is prepared based on the recombinant strain VV-GMCSF-Lact of smallpox virus. Scientists have removed two parts from the virus genome that can produce virulence. Instead, they inserted genes that enhance cell lysis activity. This is the first time a gene encoding a protein that kills cancer cells has been included in an anti-cancer drug.

Vladimir Richter, director of the biotechnology laboratory at ICBFM, said that after taking the drug, in about 55% of patients, the size of breast tumors gradually decreases. Testing has determined that the drug is non-toxic, safe, and has positive therapeutic effects.

In phase two, patients receive up to four injections, each dose one week apart.

Clinical research of the drug will be carried out in 4 phases. Once completed, the manufacturer will apply for a marketing license. In fact, a new cancer therapy can take decades of research and cost up to billions of dollars.

Clinical studies of the drug begin in Russia in 2022. The drug is being tested amid an increase in breast cancer cases around the world. The disease causes 670,000 deaths globally in 2022. It is the most common cancer in women in 157 out of 187 countries.

In Vietnam, according to statistics from the Global Cancer Organization (Globocan 2022), breast cancer is the most common disease in women with 24,563 new cases each year, accounting for nearly 13.6% of the total number of cases. cancer, becoming the type of cancer with the highest incidence rate.