Vaccinotherapy

National Medical Research Radiological Center of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation is conducting extensive scientific work in two areas at once. The first is the oncolytic vaccine EnteroMix, created at NMRRC jointly with the Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology. The drug is based on a combination of four non-pathogenic viruses that have the ability to destroy malignant cells and simultaneously activate the patient’s antitumor immunity. Over the past few years, a full cycle of preclinical studies has been completed, confirming the effectiveness and safety of the drug. The antitumor effect varies from slowing tumor growth to its complete destruction. It is important to note that clinical trials and patient recruitment for the first phase will begin in late 2024, early 2025.

The second direction is personalized mRNA vaccines, which are being developed at our Center in cooperation with the Gamaleya Institute. The fundamental difference of this method lies in the individual approach: based on the genetic analysis of each patient’s tumor, a unique vaccine is created that can “teach” the immune system to recognize cancer cells. Especially for this purpose, our Center has created a unique software platform to determine the individual mutation profile (so-called neoantigens) and the subsequent design of an individual vaccine for this “portrait” of the tumor.

What is the main difference between these two approaches? First of all, in the mechanism of action. “EnteroMix” uses viruses to directly destroy the tumor and activate innate immunity, while mRNA vaccines work at the molecular level, programming the specific anti-tumor immune system to fight specific tumors, based on the molecular ‘portrait’ of the tumor. Both developments are the result of the work of our talented Russian scientists. They symbolize the transition from traditional treatment methods to advanced biotechnological solutions. We are confident that these vaccines will open new horizons in the fight against cancer and save thousands of lives.