Russia and Cuba to jointly develop a cancer vaccine

St. Petersburg, Russia, Jun 4 (Prensa Latina) Russia and Cuba will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the joint development of a cancer vaccine, Russian Deputy Prime Minister and Co-Chairman of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission Dmitry Chernyshenko announced. "Last year, Russia supplied Cuba with 600 substances for the production of pharmaceutical products, and we will sign an MoU for the joint development of an oncovaccine," Chernyshenko stated during a Cuba-Russia business dialogue in the framework of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), being held from June 3 to 6.

June 5, 2026
11:17

Luis Eduardo Martin, director of the Cuban Institute of Oncology and Radiology, said that the institution is conducting several scientific exchanges with the N. P. Napalkov Clinical Scientific and Practical Center in St. Petersburg, including the development of cancer medications.

Martin specifically mentioned a biosimilar of the monoclonal antibody Pembrolizumab, which, according to him, “has had excellent results.”

He explained that the trials in Cuban patients are exploring the drug’s effectiveness in targeting melanomas and lymphomas.

Martin also stated that Cuban and Russian specialists are collaborating on a project focused on the geriatric assessment of cancer patients.

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