MOSCOW, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Russia's first mRNA vaccine developed for melanoma therapy could be cleared for human use as early as 2026.
The Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology has already produced several pilot batches of the new therapeutic cancer vaccine at a specialized facility of the institute, according to the center's director Alexander Gintsburg.
"Three batches have been manufactured. These are not intended for human use but are produced to verify how the equipment functions and to conduct all necessary quality controls, demonstrating that the vaccine meets the required parameters, which has now been confirmed," Gintsburg was quoted by RIA Novosti as saying on Thursday. "The vaccine intended for administration to people will likely be produced next year."
Earlier, Russia's Health Ministry authorized the mRNA melanoma therapeutic vaccine Neooncovac for clinical use. The vaccine was jointly developed by the Gamaleya Center and the Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, with production carried out by the National Medical Research Radiological Center. ■
