Nanolek has launched full-cycle production of the first Russian vaccine against the human papillomavirus (HPV) at its plant near Kirov. The process spans from the active pharmaceutical substance to the finished drug, according to a GxP News correspondent.
The first batches of the Cegardex vaccine are scheduled to enter the market in the second half of 2026. The company’s General Director, Yevgeny Barinov, stated that as production capacity expands, Nanolek plans to fully meet the Russian healthcare system’s demand for the HPV vaccine by 2027.
The vaccine was approved for use in adults in March of this year, with authorization for children expected in February 2026. The industrial-scale release of Cegardex will enable the expansion of the National Immunization Schedule and enhance the effectiveness of cancer prevention.
Total investment in the HPV project reached 7.5 billion rubles. This includes a 950-million-ruble concessional loan from the Industrial Development Fund for the purchase of high-tech equipment. Nanolek invested in both the vaccine’s development, which was carried out through a strategic partnership with NPC Kombiotekh, and in preparing the manufacturing facilities. The project involves the construction of two antigen production units. The capacity of the first unit, inaugurated now, is at least 600,000 doses per year. With the launch of the second unit by 2027, total capacity will exceed 3 million doses, creating a pathway for future international market entry.
The launch marks the first phase of a major investment initiative valued at over 15 billion rubles, which will expand the site’s capacity to produce vaccines against other diseases such as meningococcal infection and chickenpox.
Medical evidence confirms that HPV vaccination protects against anogenital precancerous lesions in men and women and is a proven public health tool for reducing cervical cancer incidence and mortality. In Russia, cervical cancer ranks second in prevalence among all cancers in women aged 14–45 and is the leading cause of cancer-related death in women under 44. Mass vaccination is expected to reduce the rate of HPV-associated diseases. Until now, only foreign drugs have been used for HPV prevention in Russia.
