Successful Human Trial of Russia’s Cancer Vaccine

Darwin, August 02: Russia’s newly developed cancer vaccine, “NeoOncoVac,” has shown promising results in the early stage of human trials. Researchers involved in the project have reported that the first patient who received the vaccine developed an effective immune response against cancer.

According to a report by RT, the first patient to receive Russia’s melanoma cancer vaccine is in good health, and scientists from the Gamaleya Research Institute, led by its scientific director Alexander Gintsburg, said that the patient’s body has developed the necessary immune response to fight cancer.

Last year, Russia’s Ministry of Health approved two specialized cancer treatments: the mRNA-based “NeoOncoVac” for advanced-stage melanoma and the peptide-based “Oncopept” for colorectal cancer.

In April this year, NeoOncoVac was administered to a patient for the first time. The 60-year-old patient, who is being treated at the Herzen Oncology Research Institute in Moscow, is suffering from stage-three melanoma with metastatic cancer.

Speaking to Russian news agency RIA Novosti, Gintsburg said the patient is in a completely stable condition and continuing treatment. Tests have shown positive evidence of immune components that can help the body fight cancer and metastases.

He added that the patient will receive two more doses, and the immune response will be monitored throughout the entire treatment process.

Gintsburg also said that personalized vaccines are being prepared for another 10 melanoma patients, and these are expected to be ready within the next one and a half to three months.

Andrey Kaprin, head of the National Medical Research Center of Radiology, said that this technology represents a completely new approach to cancer treatment. The goal is not only to treat the disease but also to train the immune system to identify and destroy cancer cells.

To create this vaccine, samples from a patient’s tumor and healthy tissues are analyzed, and a personalized vaccine is developed based on the tumor’s genetic characteristics. This helps the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells.

Meanwhile, Russian health officials have stated that patients receiving Oncopept have also shown the necessary immune responses. In addition, the Gamaleya Institute is working on new treatment approaches for pancreatic cancer, kidney cancer, and non-small cell lung cancer.

Source: RT