Double Blow to Cancer N. F. Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology and Petrovax Pharm to Study Prospects of Combining mRNA and Immuno-Oncology Drugs

Oncological diseases remain a serious challenge for medicine. Modern scientific achievements not only allow targeted destruction of tumors, but also help the body fight cancer cells on its own. Camrelizumab, a checkpoint inhibitor that blocks the PD-1 receptor, was registered in Russia last year for the treatment of nasopharyngeal and esophageal cancer. In combination with mRNA technologies, the use of immunotherapy, such as camrelizumab, can significantly expand the possibilities of fighting cancer by more actively stimulating the immune response and affecting the malignant tumor.

The development of innovative mRNA-based drugs in Russia is being carried out by the Scientific and Technological Center for the Development of mRNA Technologies, which was created this year and includes 17 scientific organizations. The leading institute of the consortium is the N. F. Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology.

"The mRNA platform opens up revolutionary possibilities in medicine, especially in oncology. This technology allows us to induce the most complete and targeted immune response against cancer cells, significantly surpassing traditional methods in this. This approach allows us to destroy not only the tumor, but also metastases, which is impossible with other methods. Today, the mRNA consortium created in Russia faces the task of learning to use mRNA technology in the treatment of not only oncological diseases with high genetic variability - melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, but also other types of cancer. In parallel, we are solving the problem of combining the new method with existing treatment methods, including other immunobiological methods. The combination of therapeutic mRNA vaccines with other immuno-oncological drugs can give the doctor additional opportunities to stimulate the immune system of a cancer patient, and therefore additional chances for tumor regression and the patient's entry into remission," said the director of the NICEM. N. F. Gamaleya, academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, professor Alexander Leonidovich Ginzburg .

At the same time, in 2024, Petrovax Pharm launched the immuno-oncological drug camrelizumab on the domestic market, registering it under the trade name Areima®. The company seeks active cooperation with Russian scientific institutes in order to develop innovative methods and means for treating oncological diseases.

The parties plan to conduct studies that include modeling of immunotherapy regimens using checkpoint inhibitors (camrelizumab) as a basic therapy that improves the tumor microenvironment, a key factor in increasing the effectiveness of treatment with drugs using individualized biotechnological drugs based on mRNA technologies.

" Our partnership with the Gamaleya Institute is a powerful source of synergy for research, production and implementation of innovative solutions. We see great potential in the combination of an mRNA vaccine and an immune checkpoint inhibitor, which could be the next important step in the fight against cancer. Our successful joint experience of the first transfer of technology for the production of an orphan drug substance in Russia has already demonstrated the high level of cooperation and the readiness of our R&D teams to implement the most ambitious projects ," said Mikhail Tsyferov, President of Petrovax Pharm.

The first experience of partnership between the N. F. Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology and the company "Petrovax Pharm" made it possible to implement an unprecedented project on the transfer of technology for the synthesis of an orphan drug substance from a cell line and to introduce into clinical practice the treatment of Fabry disease a drug of completely domestic production - the drug Fabagal®.