The Institute of Biochemistry and Fundamental Medicine of the Russian Academy of Sciences is preparing to begin clinical trials for a drug to treat brain cancer, and discussions regarding these trials are currently underway with neurosurgeons.
Elena Kologina, the lead researcher at the Institute of Biochemistry and Fundamental Medicine of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, announced that the first phase of clinical trials for an innovative Russian drug based on the vaccinia virus to treat brain cancer could involve about 30 to 50 patients.
The drug targets the treatment of glioblastoma, a highly aggressive malignant brain tumor that arises from glial cells responsible for supporting and nourishing nerve cells, and is classified as grade four of malignant tumors due to its rapid growth and difficulty in treatment.
During the "Bioengineering and Biopharmaceuticals" conference, Kologina clarified that the first and second phases of the trials will include between 30 and 50 patients, where participants will receive a single dose of the drug, followed by a year of medical follow-up.
She added that discussions about the trial protocol with neurosurgeons are still ongoing, noting that the treatment will be designated for patients experiencing relapse of glioblastoma after undergoing surgeries.
The drug, which possesses anti-tumor properties, is based on the VV-GMCSF-Lact strain of the vaccinia virus, where scientists modified two genes in the virus to enhance the immune response and increase its ability to attack cancer cells.
Preclinical tests showed that the drug helped reduce the growth of primary tumors without harming healthy cells, according to the researchers.
The Russian Ministry of Health granted permission in December 2021 to conduct clinical trials for an anti-cancer drug developed by the Institute of Biochemistry and Fundamental Medicine of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with the "Victor" Center of the Russian health monitoring agency and the "Oncostar" company under the Skolkovo Foundation.