■Russia is close to creating cancer vaccines, says Putin.

■Putin did not specify which types of cancer the vaccines would target.

■Global efforts are underway to create cancer vaccines.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced that the country’s scientists are on the brink of developing vaccines for cancer. Speaking at a future technologies forum in Moscow, Putin expressed optimism that these vaccines and new generation immunomodulatory drugs would soon be available for patient use. However, he did not provide details on the types of cancer the vaccines would target.

The development of cancer vaccines is a global effort, with several countries and companies involved. In 2023, the UK government partnered with Germany’s BioNTech to initiate clinical trials for “personalised cancer treatments,” aiming to reach 10,000 patients by 2030. Additionally, pharmaceutical giants Moderna and Merck & Co are working on an experimental cancer vaccine that has shown promising results in reducing the risk of recurrence or death from melanoma.

Currently, there are six licensed vaccines against human papillomaviruses (HPV) that cause various cancers, including cervical cancer, according to the World Health Organization. Vaccines against hepatitis B (HBV), which can lead to liver cancer, are also available.

Russia has previously developed its own COVID-19 vaccine, Sputnik V, which was sold to several countries despite domestic hesitancy towards vaccination. Putin himself has taken the Sputnik vaccine, in an attempt to reassure the public of its safety and effectiveness.

Read more at Reuters.