Russia has claimed that they have developed a new vaccine that could see cancer cured once and for all.
Veronika Skvortsova, the head of the Russian Federal Medical-Biological Agency (FMBA), shared the news at the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok, per Russian news agency TASS.
According to Skvortsova, the research took several years, with the last three years focusing on mandatory preclinical studies.
She stated: "The vaccine is now ready for use; we are awaiting official approval."
In addition to reportedly being safe even with repeated administration, the Enteromix vaccine demonstrated significant effectiveness in reducing tumor size and slowing tumor progression.
These results showed reductions ranging from 60 to 80 percent, depending on the specific disease, with some studies also noting increased survival rates.
Some reports even claim the vaccine achieved 100% efficacy in preclinical trials, although this remains unverified by independent sources.
The Vaccine’s Focus: Colorectal Cancer and Beyond
Initially, the Enteromix vaccine targets colorectal cancer, but reports suggest that promising progress has been made in developing vaccines for other aggressive cancers such as glioblastoma and specific types of melanoma, including ocular melanoma, per the Times of India.
The vaccine, developed using mRNA technology similar to that of Covid-19 vaccines, trains the immune system to recognize and eliminate cancer cells while causing fewer side effects than traditional treatments like chemotherapy or radiation.
Early studies indicated that the vaccine was well-tolerated by patients, with no serious side effects.
A Personalized Treatment: The Future of Cancer Therapy?
One of the most intriguing aspects of Enteromix is that it is personalized for each individual patient.
The vaccine’s ability to target and destroy cancerous tumors while boosting the immune system is being touted as a major step forward in cancer treatment.
It represents a shift away from generic treatments like chemotherapy that often have severe side effects, to a more tailored approach that could improve patient outcomes with fewer risks.
Experts Weigh In: Cautious Optimism Amid Limited Data
While the results have sparked excitement, experts are cautious about jumping to conclusions.
Dr. David James Pinato, a clinician scientist and medical oncologist at Imperial College London, expressed concerns about the quality of the data released.
Speaking to Newsweek, he explained that preclinical trials, which typically involve testing on animals, are not conclusive proof of a vaccine's efficacy in humans.
Pinato noted: “The fact that a vaccine approach has had 100 percent efficacy in animals means absolutely nothing. This is because very often the immune system of animal models does not replicate the complexity of the cancer genome or the human immune system.”
He emphasized the need for further testing in human clinical trials to confirm any results before the vaccine could be used clinically.
“If this is truly preclinical results, it's amazing, it's interesting, but it's by no means something that can be advocated for clinical use [yet],” he said.
Enteromix in Clinical Trials: What We Know So Far
As of now, Enteromix has already entered clinical trials, with 48 volunteers participating in testing.
The vaccine has demonstrated potential in slowing tumor growth and, in some cases, completely destroying tumors, but it has yet to clear regulatory hurdles.
According to reports, the vaccine uses harmless viruses to target and destroy cancerous cells while strengthening the body’s immune response.
The clinical trials began earlier this year, with the Russian Ministry of Health’s National Medical Research Radiology Centre and the Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology collaborating on its development.
The trials, first announced at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, are part of Russia’s larger push to make significant advancements in medical research and biotechnology.
With preclinical testing completed, the only step remaining before Enteromix can be made available to the public is regulatory approval.
If it passes, Enteromix could become the first personalized mRNA cancer vaccine available to the general public.