Russian scientists plan to develop vaccines to treat bladder, small cell lung and colorectal cancers, after products for melanoma skin cancer.
Alexander Gintsburg, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Scientific Director of Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology, announced the above plan on August 3 with RIA Novosti. The products mentioned belong to the group of therapeutic vaccines. They were developed to activate the immune system to fight cancer cells in people who are already sick, and do not have the same cancer prevention effect as preventive vaccines. However, he has not announced the technology, research time or testing plans for the three products.
Experimental cancer treatment vaccine Neooncovac. Photo: Ministry of Health of Russia
The foundation for developing new products is built from NeoOncoVac research experience. This is a personalized mRNA vaccine for people with melanoma skin cancer. The product has been tested on humans since early April. The vaccine is specifically designed based on the genetic characteristics of the patient’s tumor.
According to the Russian Ministry of Health, the patient was diagnosed with melanoma and is still at risk of disease progression despite surgery and immunotherapy. NeoOncoVac is added to help the immune system recognize tumor-specific antigens.
The Russian National Medical Research Center for Radiotherapy said the product is being considered for use in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Subjects include adults with inoperable or metastatic melanoma. Vaccines can also be used as an adjunct after surgery to remove metastatic foci.
In addition to the Gamaleya Center’s projects, the Russian Federal Biomedical Agency is also developing two vaccines to treat glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. The head of the agency, Ms. Veronika Skvortsova, said they expect to be approved for clinical use of the peptide vaccine Gliopept in 2026 and the mRNA vaccine GlioRNA by the end of the year.