Resident Vladimir Putin announced on Wednesday that Russian scientists were nearing the development of vaccines for cancer, which could soon be accessible to patients. Putin, speaking at a Moscow forum on future technologies, expressed optimism about the advancement, stating that they were on the brink of creating “cancer vaccines and immunomodulatory drugs for a new generation.” He anticipated their imminent utilization as individual therapy methods but refrained from specifying the targeted cancer types or the mechanisms involved.
Various countries and companies worldwide are engaged in the development of cancer vaccines. Notably, last year, the UK government partnered with Germany-based BioNTech to initiate clinical trials for “personalized cancer treatments,” with a goal to enroll 10,000 patients by 2030. Additionally, pharmaceutical giants Moderna and Merck & Co are collaborating on an experimental cancer vaccine, showing promising results in a mid-stage study, which demonstrated a 50% reduction in the risk of recurrence or death from melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, over three years of treatment.
Currently, there exist six licensed vaccines targeting human papillomaviruses (HPV), known to cause various cancers, including cervical cancer, as documented by the World Health Organization. Furthermore, vaccines against Hepatitis B (HBV), a precursor to liver cancer, are also available.
In the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia notably developed the Sputnik V vaccine against the virus and distributed it globally, albeit facing hesitancy domestically. Putin himself publicly endorsed the vaccine by receiving it, aiming to instill confidence in its efficacy and safety among the populace.