Latest news with #GamaleyaResearchInstitute
Russia Today
03-08-2025
- Health
- Russia Today
Russian lab unveils when first patients will receive cancer vaccine
Russia's first patients could begin receiving a newly developed cancer vaccine within the next few months, Alexander Gintsburg, director of the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, has announced. The breakthrough drug is a personalized, AI-assisted, mRNA-based vaccine designed to target malignant tumors using the patient's own genetic data. Speaking to RIA Novosti on Saturday, Gintsburg confirmed that the experimental phase of administering the vaccine will start 'in the coming months,' in cooperation with two leading oncology institutions – the Hertsen Research Institute and the Blokhin Cancer Center in Moscow. According to Gintsburg, the Gamaleya Center is responsible for producing the vaccine, while patient trials will be conducted by the partnering clinics. 'In accordance with the plan approved by the Health Ministry, we are preparing to begin experimental treatment using the cancer vaccine based on neoantigens in a group of melanoma patients,' Gintsburg said. He emphasized that the drug is 'entirely personalized,' created specifically for each patient using their unique tumor data, and cannot be used for anyone else. The development of the vaccine began in mid-2022 and applies messenger RNA (mRNA) technology. The treatment works by training the patient's immune system to recognize tumor-specific proteins (antigens) and destroy malignant cells throughout the body using cytotoxic lymphocytes. Due to its individualized nature, the cancer vaccine is subject to a unique regulatory framework adopted by the Russian government earlier this year. 'This is a fundamentally different process from the registration of standard drugs,' Gintsburg explained, noting that the team is working closely with health authorities to move forward under the new guidelines. The vaccine, initially designed for melanoma patients, has already shown promising results in animal trials and limited tests on human patients. Gintsburg previously stated that the entire production process – from analyzing the tumor to creating a tailored vaccine – can be completed in about a week with the help of artificial intelligence. The Gamaleya Center, which created the world's first registrede Covid-19 vaccine, Sputnik V, is also currently developing models for treating other oncological diseases, including pancreatic, kidney, and non-small-cell lung cancer – the most frequently diagnosed cancer with the highest mortality rate and one that is notoriously difficult to treat. Russia's Health Ministry estimates there are around 4 million cancer patients in the country, with roughly 625,000 new cases diagnosed annually. The cancer vaccine project could become a major milestone in Russia's public health strategy if it proves safe and effective during the upcoming trial phase. The innovation has attracted international interest, with Gintsburg confirming that several foreign medical institutions have reached out to express a desire to collaborate.
Russia Today
21-05-2025
- Health
- Russia Today
Sputnik V creator warns of global ‘cat flu' pandemic
The head of Gamaleya Research Institute, Alexander Gintsburg, has warned that H5N1 avian flu spreading in cats could jump to humans, potentially triggering a deadly pandemic. Gintsburg said the threat is serious enough to warrant immediate vaccine development. '[A vaccine prototype] should go through Phase I and II clinical trials against the strain that is very likely to start transmitting not just between animals, but from human to human,' Gintsburg told Izvestia on Wednesday. The institution was behind Sputnik V, the world's first registered Covid-19 vaccine. According to Gintsburg, a mutation of H5N1 allowing airborne human transmission could lead to a crisis worse than smallpox. 'The fatality rate is 50–70%, and if transmitted by air, smallpox will seem like child's play compared to what could happen after one or two mutations,' he said. Gintsburg said Russia needs to be able to manufacture the vaccine quickly. 'A ready prototype should be available to scale up production in three to four weeks and introduce it for public use,' he added. However, he noted that no such program currently exists. In early May, University of Maryland researchers identified a surge in avian influenza cases among domestic cats. The study, based on two decades of data, found over 600 infections in cats across 18 countries, with a fatality rate exceeding 50%. 'Domestic cats are susceptible to [bird flu] and provide a potential pathway for zoonotic spillover to humans,' the researchers warned, stressing the risks to people in close contact with animals during outbreaks. Cats typically contract H5N1 through consuming infected birds, raw poultry products, or unpasteurized milk from infected livestock. The study also highlighted unknown transmission routes, including indoor cats with no clear exposure. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a total of 974 confirmed human cases of H5N1 across 24 countries since 2003. Among these cases, 470 have resulted in fatalities. Such cases are typically associated with direct or indirect exposure to infected poultry. The virus has not achieved sustained human-to-human transmission, but health authorities continue to monitor its evolution closely due to its high mortality rate and potential pandemic risk. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers the risk to the general public as low.
