Russian health officials announced that the Enteromix mRNA-based cancer vaccine has successfully completed preclinical trials and is now ready for phase I clinical trials, marking a significant advancement in cancer treatment.

The vaccine, developed by the National Medical Research Radiological Centre and the Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, targets and destroys cancer cells while shrinking tumors, with no serious side effects reported, and it is personalized for each patient.

Initial clinical trials involved 48 volunteers and showed promising results, including slowing tumor growth and, in some cases, complete elimination of cancer, with the vaccine targeting colorectal cancer initially.

Documents for clinical approval have been submitted, and phase I human trials involving up to 48 participants are set to begin soon, with the potential for free distribution to Russian citizens if approved.

The trial results were announced at SPIEF 2025 in June, highlighting Russia's progress in medical research and biotechnology, with the announcement made during the 10th Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok.

Russia's development of this vaccine is part of a global race, with other countries like Britain, Germany, the US, and companies such as Moderna and Merck working on similar cancer vaccines.

Cancer remains a major health issue worldwide, with India reporting 874,000 deaths in 2024 and a projected 12% increase in cases over five years, driven by lifestyle, diet, stress, and environmental factors.

The Enteromix vaccine shows promise for aggressive cancers such as glioblastoma and certain melanomas, including ocular melanoma, with ongoing development for these variants.

The vaccine uses four harmless viruses to attack tumors and stimulate the immune response, showing effectiveness in slowing or destroying cancer and potentially eliminating the need for chemotherapy if approved.

Russia plans to offer the vaccine free of charge to citizens, with clinical trials having begun in December 2024, and it could benefit patients with various cancers, including lung, breast, colorectal, and pancreatic.

Cancer vaccines work by training the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells, similar to vaccines for childhood diseases, but these are designed to treat existing cancers.

The initial target of the vaccine is colorectal cancer, with ongoing research for glioblastoma and melanoma, including ocular melanoma, aiming to potentially replace chemotherapy.

The clinical trials were conducted by Russia's Ministry of Health's National Medical Research Radiology Centre in collaboration with the Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology of the Russian Academy of Science.