How Russian cancer vaccines EnteroMix and personalized mRNA work to control the life-threatening disease

In a breakthrough in cancer treatment, Russia’s cancer vaccine has completed preclinical trials demonstrating both safety and high efficacy., Veronika Skvortsova, head of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency (FMBA), said, according to news agency TASS. National Medical Research Radiological Center (NMRRC) of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation carried out extensive scientific work to develop EnteroMix and personalized mRNA cancer vaccines.

Speaking about the revolutionary vaccine at the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF), Skvortsova said, "The research spanned several years, with the last three dedicated to mandatory preclinical studies,” as quoted by news agency TASS. "The vaccine is now ready for use; we are awaiting official approval," she added.

The FMBA head asserted that preclinical results confirmed the vaccine’s safety, even with repeated administration, and its significant effectiveness. According to TASS, researchers observed reductions in tumor size and slowed tumor progression, which ranged from 60% to 80%. It depended upon the disease characteristics. The major findings of the studies indicate that there is a rise in survival rates, which can be attributed to the vaccine.

How does EnteroMix and personalized mRNA Cancer vaccines work

The basic aim of the Cancer vaccine, developed after extensive scientific work, is to destroy malignant cells and simultaneously activate the patient's antitumor immunity. To develop domestic technologies in the fight against cancer, the NMRRC carried out extensive trials and scientific work in two areas at once. The first was oncolytic vaccine EnteroMix and the second was personalized mRNA vaccines

Oncolytic vaccine EnteroMix

EnteroMix was created at NMRRC jointly with the Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology. According to the National Medical Research Radiological Center, 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. The antitumor effect varies from slowing tumor growth to its complete destruction.

Personalized mRNA vaccines

Personalized mRNA vaccines are developed by NMRRC's Center in cooperation with the Gamaleya Institute. The fundamental difference of this method lies in the individual approach which means 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, NMRRC’s 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.