Russia has made significant advances in cell therapy, with six such drugs now registered. Igor Korobko, Director of the Department of Science and Innovation in Healthcare at the Ministry of Health, reported that in his speech at the National Healthcare congress in Moscow.
“Last year marked the beginning of clinical trials for cell therapy in Russia, with four high-tech medicinal products being tested at once. Today there are already six of them,” he said, adding that such therapy has been actively developing in recent years.
Korobko also mentioned another important innovation — the technology of modifying immune system cells with chimeric antigen receptors (CAR-T therapy), where the patient’s own T lymphocytes are genetically modified in the laboratory. “Multiple CAR-T therapies have received approval internationally, allowing for life-saving treatment in conditions like acute lymphoblastic leukemia and lymphoma when other treatment methods have failed,” he clarified, adding that these domestically manufactured drugs are now accessible to Russian patients.
Recently, it was reported that the list of Russian medical organizations permitted to manufacture and administer biotechnological medicinal products has been broadened. This has been the first change to the list since it was approved in December 2024.