SPECIAL STORY
and broader oncolytic approaches could eventually provide a more robust therapeutic arsenal.”
Indian perspective: What It means for the region
Indian experts, while cautious, see opportunities in these developments.“ India has one of the world’ s highest cancer burdens, particularly with latestage diagnoses. If these Russian programmes deliver safe and effective outcomes, there is scope for collaboration in clinical trials and even joint manufacturing,” says a senior oncologist at a leading Indian cancer institute, requesting anonymity.
Another Indian biotechnology researcher highlighted the affordability angle.“ Personalised therapies are often dismissed in the Global South as being too expensive. But if Russia can compress timelines to under a week
and lower costs through localised production, it could make such treatments viable in countries like India. That would be transformative.”
From a global standpoint, Indian health policy experts also point to the role of competition.“ Right now, most personalised cancer vaccine pipelines are dominated by US and European firms. A Russian breakthrough would create much-needed price competition and broaden global access. For India, which often balances relationships with both the West and Russia, this could open new scientific and diplomatic channels,” one expert in public health strategy observed.
India has already made strides in preventive oncology, most notably with the cervical cancer vaccine developed by Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech, which aims to address one of the most common cancers among
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BioVoiceNews | September 2025