Russian government announces cancer vaccine for 2025

Russia has just released personalized vaccines to combat cancer, one of the diseases that, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), kills around 10 million people a year. The vaccine, with free distribution scheduled for 2025, uses messenger RNA or mRNA technology, similar to vaccines against Covid-19, and non-pathogenic viruses to combat tumors.

Understand how the immunizer works

The Russian Ministry of Health, through the National Center for Medical Research, brought two vaccines to light: personalized with mRNA and Enteromix. The first, with technology known to combat Covid-19, was created based on genetic analysis and specific characteristics of each tumor. In other words, when releasing RNA into the patient's body, the cells begin to manufacture a protein that, upon entering the immune system, produces defense antibodies.

The second was formulated through the combination of four non-pathogenic viruses to destroy cancer cells and activate the cancer patient's immunity simultaneously. Both were submitted to positive results in pre-clinical trials, but there is no history of proof of efficacy or safety published in scientific studies.

_{Cancer cells in the body (Photo: reproduction/Freepik)}

What the experts say

In an interview with the magazine Newsweekthe immunologist and professor at Trinity College, in Dublin, Ireland, Kingston Mills, brought a warning about immunization tests. “There is nothing in scientific journals about this (…) I haven't seen any studies about this, so I have nothing to say in terms of science”he said. Despite being promising, for him it is questionable that a single vaccine is capable of fighting dozens of types of cancer, developed by countless causes.

To G1, the senior research manager at ACCamargo Cancer Center, Mariana Brait, pointed out the non-identification of publications with substantial data on the production of the immunizing messenger RNA, for example. “We have not identified a vaccine being made by a Russian group that shows promising results for oncology”he said.

Race against cancer

In European countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, Spain and Sweden, and in the United States, there are records of vaccines for cancer cells that cause melanoma – skin cancer in the lethal stage, and prostate cancer. Companies such as the pharmaceutical company “Moderna” and the biotechnology company “BioNTech” are part of this development.

“There are several vaccines being studied in the field of oncology. RNA vaccines being developed and looking at different personalized targets, others developed for a specific cancer, such as pancreas. In Oxford they are looking to treat ovarian cancer”added Marina.

Furthermore, since 2006, there has been the HPV vaccine, distributed by the SUS for children and adolescents aged 9 to 14, which prevents cancer of the cervix, penis, vulva, vagina, anal canal, throat and oropharynx.

Featured photo: Russian government announces personalized cancer vaccines for 2025 (Reproduction/Freepik)