Russia’s Gamaleya Institute reports positive results for melanoma vaccine in first patient

July 31, 2026 at 05:00 AM1 min

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Russia’s Gamaleya Research Institute said its personalized mRNA-based melanoma vaccine produced a positive immune response in the first patient in an early-stage clinical trial, TRT Haber reported. The 60-year-old stage-three melanoma patient, who received the first dose in April, continues treatment, with tests showing the body generated active compounds to fight the tumor and metastases.

Initial Human Response

Gamaleya Institute Scientific Director Aleksandr Ginzburg said the 60-year-old stage three melanoma patient, who received the first dose in April, is responding well. Tests indicate the body is producing necessary active compounds to target tumors and metastases, with an extremely positive immunological response, according to TRT Haber. The vaccine, named Neooncovac, is an mRNA-based therapy approved by the Russian Health Ministry last year for advanced melanoma.

Personalized Production Model

Unlike conventional treatments, Neooncovac is tailored to each patient by analyzing genetic structures from tumor and healthy tissue samples, then producing a unique vaccine within one to three months. Gamaleya officials said the vaccine will be prepared for 10 additional patients in the coming months. The method trains the immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells, according to Andrey Kaprin, head of the National Medical Radiology Research Centre, who described it as a fundamentally different approach.

Broader Oncology Pipeline

Beyond melanoma, Gamaleya is advancing Oncopept, a peptide drug for colorectal cancer that has already produced necessary immune responses in treated patients. The institute is also conducting studies targeting pancreas, kidney, and non-small cell lung cancers.