Alexander Gintsburg, the scientific director of the Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, said it was too early to talk about the results of the cancer vaccine.
This is because the period that has elapsed since the first patient began treatment is very short.
Ginsburg explained to TASS that doctors cannot yet assess whether the tumor has begun to shrink in the patient who received treatment in early April, noting that the timeframe is insufficient for making definitive scientific judgments, with initial data expected within two months. He added, "We cannot yet speak of effectiveness in humans, and the first results are expected to be published within two months."
It is worth noting that the first patient in Russia received the Russian personalized cancer vaccine, Neooncovac, on April 1st. This mRNA-based vaccine targets melanoma and was developed at the National Medical Radiology Center of the Russian Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology and the Blokhin National Research Center for Oncology. It is used to treat adult patients with inoperable or metastatic melanoma.
The Neooncovac vaccine is the first personalized therapeutic vaccine of its kind in Russia for the treatment of one of the most aggressive forms of skin cancer, melanoma.
What is the "Neo OncoVac" vaccine?
It is a therapeutic, not a preventative, vaccine that works by training the patient's immune system to recognize and precisely target cancer cells in his body.
A personalized approach:
The vaccine is manufactured individually for each patient based on the genetic analysis of their tumor cells.
Targeted conditions:
It targets adults with inoperable or metastatic skin cancer (melanoma), and can also be used after surgery to reduce the risk of disease recurrence.
Clinical trials and initial results:
First patient: The vaccine was first administered to a 60-year-old man on April 1, 2026.
Encouraging preliminary results: The director of the Gamaleya Center noted initial positive changes in laboratory tests, indicating that the vaccine was beginning to affect the immune system.
Treatment plan: The treatment lasts approximately ten weeks and includes up to 10 doses administered according to a specific schedule.
Treatment and Production Method:
Preparation Time: Currently, preparing a single dose takes approximately three months, with plans to reduce this time in the future.
Storage: The vaccine requires very low temperatures (down to -65°C) to ensure its effectiveness.
Funding and Responsible Parties:
Developers: The vaccine was developed through a collaboration between three leading Russian scientific centers.
Government Support: It is planned to be included in the government guarantee system (public health insurance), making it available to eligible patients nationwide.
