Oncorna is the second treatment for this type of cancer to be approved, following Oncopept's approval in late 2025. The latter was administered to its first patient in March.
Both vaccines were developed by the Federal Medical and Biological Agency, a body subordinated to the president.
The twin breakthroughs are part of Russia's broader exploration of mRNA-based therapies designed to help train a compromised immune system to recognize and destroy tumor cells.
The vaccines are personalized – custom-made and administered to fit patients' unique tumor and immune system profiles, while incorporating advanced technologies including AI.
So far, besides colorectal cancer, treatments have been developed for pancreatic, kidney, lung, brain, and other cancers.