Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Wednesday that Russian scientists are nearing the development of a cancer vaccine, which could soon be accessible to patients.
Putin stated in his televised remarks that “we have come very close to the creation of so-called cancer vaccines and immunomodulatory drugs of a new generation.”
During a seminar on future technologies in Moscow, he expressed his hopes, saying, “I hope that soon they will be effectively used as methods of individual therapy.”
Putin did not specify the type of cancer the anticipated vaccines will target, nor did he elaborate on the methods involved.
A contract was signed between the UK government and the German-based company BioNTech to initiate “personalized cancer treatments” with the aim of reaching 10,000 patients by 2030.
An experimental cancer vaccine being developed by Moderna and Merck & Co. may potentially reduce the chance of death from melanoma, the most lethal type of skin cancer, by half after three years of therapy, based on findings from a mid-stage trial.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are currently six vaccines available for hepatitis B, a virus known to cause liver cancer. Additionally, some of these vaccines also target human papillomaviruses (HPV), which are linked to various forms of cancer, including cervical cancer.
Russia developed its own Sputnik V vaccine against COVID-19 during the pandemic and exported it to several other nations. However, domestically, the vaccine faced strong public reaction and resistance against vaccinations.
Putin also acknowledged that he received the Sputnik vaccine himself to reassure people about its safety and effectiveness.