Russian cancer vaccine claims are misleading, Neoonkovac and Oncopept are personalized treatments, not universal cures
via Business News2 min read
Social media posts claiming Russia announced the "first cancer vaccine" called Neoonkovac, administered to a 60-year-old melanoma patient, are misleading. Neoonkovac is an experimental, personalized mRNA therapeutic vaccine project developed with the Russian Ministry of Health and the Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology. Unlike preventive vaccines, Neoonkovac is a treatment for individuals already diagnosed with cancer, designed to help the immune system recognize and destroy cancer cells based on the patient's specific tumor mutations. Each vaccine is custom-made for a single patient and is not a universal cure. Official Russian communications have focused on trials and development, with limited published scientific data. Another therapeutic vaccine, Oncopept, developed by Russia's Federal Medical-Biological Agency, received clinical use authorization for colorectal cancer treatment by late 2025. In April 2026, the first patient received Oncopept after 24 patients were selected from 543 applications. Personalized therapeutic cancer vaccines are not exclusive to Russia; laboratories in several countries are developing similar individualized mRNA vaccines for various cancers, including melanoma, pancreatic cancer, and certain lung cancers. These approaches remain experimental and are tailored to specific cancer types. Therefore, while Neoonkovac is a Russian personalized therapeutic mRNA vaccine project, it is neither preventive nor a universal
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Herv茅 Renard, coach of the Carthage Eagles, described their 3-1 loss to the Netherlands on June 26, 2026, as a "catastrophic start to the match." This defeat marked their third in the group stage of the World Cup, leading to their early elimination. Playing at Arrowhead Stadium, Tunisia faced a structured and efficient Dutch team, quickly falling behind. Renard highlighted the team's inability to convert opportunities and their defensive vulnerabilities, particularly on set pieces. He noted that the team was not solid enough in these situations. Renard was appointed coach after Sabri Lamouchi's dismissal following a 5-1 loss to Sweden. The Tunisian campaign concluded with three losses, zero points, and a first-round exit. Renard acknowledged that while playing such matches is magnificent, the team did not perform to the required standard for the event, indicating a gap between high-level international demands and the team's current tactical and mental stability.
Must ReadSihem Ben Sedrine, former President of the Truth and Dignity Instance IVD, has been sentenced to a total of 25 years in prison by the criminal chamber specializing in financial corruption cases at the Tunis Court of First Instance. The conviction, handed down late Thursday into Friday, June 26, 2026, relates to "excesses and irregularities" during the IVD's operations and the Franco-Tunisian Bank BFT case. The court examined two cases involving Ben Sedrine and several other defendants, including former Minister of State Domains and Land Affairs Mabrouk Korchid, former IVD member Khaled Krichi, and businessman Slim Chiboub. In the first case, concerning IVD activities, Ben Sedrine, Krichi, Chiboub, and Korchid faced charges related to alleged irregularities in an arbitration and reconciliation agreement with Slim Chiboub. Ben Sedrine and Krichi were each sentenced to five years in prison, while Korchid received six years, for abusing their public functions to cause material harm to the administration for the benefit of a third party. Chiboub was found guilty of complicity and sentenced to five years. All four were also fined 1.776 billion dinars each and ordered to jointly repay the same amount. The second case involved Ben Sedrine, Krichi, Korchid, and Abdelmajid Bouden in the BFT matter. They were prosecuted for abusing their functions to gain undue advantage, causing harm to the administration, violating regulations, and complicity. Ben Sedrine also faced accusations of for
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