MOSCOW, Russia, Feb 15: Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Wednesday that Russian scientists are on the verge of developing vaccines for cancer, which could soon be accessible to patients. Speaking at a Moscow forum on future technologies, Putin stated, "We have come very close to the creation of so-called cancer vaccines and immunomodulatory drugs of a new generation," expressing hope that these advancements would be effectively utilized as individual therapy methods.

However, Putin did not specify the types of cancer targeted by these proposed vaccines or elaborate on the methodology involved. Currently, various countries and companies are engaged in similar endeavors. Last year, the UK government partnered with Germany-based BioNTech to initiate clinical trials for personalized cancer treatments, aiming to reach 10,000 patients by 2030. Additionally, pharmaceutical giants Moderna and Merck & Co are collaborating on an experimental cancer vaccine that has shown promising results in reducing the risk of recurrence or death from melanoma.

Moreover, there are existing vaccines against human papillomaviruses (HPV), which are linked to several cancers, including cervical cancer, as well as vaccines targeting hepatitis B (HBV), a precursor to liver cancer, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Notably, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia developed the Sputnik V vaccine against the coronavirus and distributed it to several countries. However, within Russia, the vaccine faced significant hesitancy among the public. To boost confidence, Putin himself publicly announced receiving the Sputnik V vaccine to reassure people of its efficacy and safety.