Russia and Cuba will sign a memorandum for the joint development of a cancer vaccine, announced today Russian Deputy Prime Minister and co-chairman of the joint intergovernmental commission, Dmitri Chernishenko.

“Last year, Russia supplied Cuba with 600 substances for pharmaceutical production, and this Thursday we will sign a memorandum for the joint development of an oncovaccine,” Chernishenko stated during a Cuba-Russia business dialogue within the framework of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), which runs from June 3 to 6.

Last May, the director of Cuba’s Institute of Oncology and Radiology, Luis Eduardo Martín, said they are carrying out several scientific exchanges with the N.P. Napalkov Scientific and Practical Clinical Center, based in the Russian city of St. Petersburg, including the development of cancer medications.

The director mentioned in particular a biosimilar of the monoclonal antibody Pembrolizumab, which, according to him, “has had very good results.” According to his presentation, tests on Cuban patients are exploring the drug’s effectiveness in targeting melanomas and lymphomas.

Additionally, Martín stated that Cuban and Russian specialists are conducting joint work focused on the geriatric assessment of cancer patients.