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Russia Melanoma Vaccine Neooncovac Triggers Early Immune Response
science-and-technology

Russia Melanoma Vaccine Neooncovac Triggers Early Immune Response

By Editorial Team•Jul 30, 2026 · 7:32 PM•3 min read
AI-generated representative image: A patient receives care at a Moscow oncology clinic during clinical trials of Russia's personalized mRNA melanoma vaccine Neo
Editorial Team
Editorial Team
First patient at Moscow oncology institute shows promising results as ten more personalized mRNA cancer vaccines enter preparation

The first patient to receive Russia's personalized mRNA-based melanoma vaccine, Neooncovac, has developed the immune response necessary to combat the disease and is feeling well, according to Aleksandr Ginzburg, scientific director of the Gamaleya Research Institute.

The 60-year-old man, who has stage-three melanoma with metastases, began treatment in April at the Herzen Moscow Oncology Research Institute and is continuing his course under medical supervision.

The early positive results mark a significant milestone in Russia's push to develop personalized cancer immunotherapies, a field that aims to move beyond conventional treatments by training the body's own immune system to identify and destroy malignant cells. If the ongoing trials continue to show success, the approach could expand treatment options for patients with limited alternatives.

Early Clinical Observations

Ginzburg told RIA Novosti on Thursday that the patient is "feeling completely normal" and that tests have revealed "very positive" immunological responses. The body is producing the active compounds required for the immune system to target both the tumor and its metastases.

The patient is scheduled to receive two additional doses, with his immune response monitored throughout the treatment period. Separately, personalized melanoma vaccines for ten more patients are being prepared and should be ready within one-and-a-half to three months.

How Russia's Cancer Vaccine Program Developed

Last year, the Russian Health Ministry approved two domestically developed personalized cancer treatments: Neooncovac, an mRNA-based vaccine targeting advanced melanoma, and Oncopept, a peptide medicine designed for colorectal cancer. Both represent a shift toward individualized cancer therapy tailored to each patient's genetic profile.

Andrey Kaprin, head of the National Medical Research Center of Radiology, has described the underlying technology as a fundamentally different approach. Rather than simply treating the disease, the method is intended to teach the immune system to recognize and destroy threatening cells. The process involves analyzing genetic characteristics from samples of a patient's tumor and healthy tissue to create a customized vaccine.

Parallel Progress and Expanded Research

Russian health officials have reported that patients receiving Oncopept, the colorectal cancer treatment, have also developed the required immune response. Meanwhile, the Gamaleya Research Institute is extending its research pipeline to develop treatments for pancreatic cancer, kidney cancer, and non-small cell lung cancer, signaling a broader ambition to apply personalized immunotherapy across multiple cancer types.

What Comes Next

The first patient will continue receiving doses of Neooncovac while his immunological markers are tracked. Preparations for the next ten patients are underway, with vaccine readiness expected within three months. Further data from these expanded trials will be needed before any conclusions about the treatment's broader efficacy can be drawn.

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