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GuardianFeb 11
Putin Claims Russia Close to Creating Cancer Vaccines
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The Facts
Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin told the Future Technologies Forum on Wednesday that Moscow has come "very close" to creating cancer vaccines and a new generation of immunomodulatory drugs.
This comes after the UK signed an agreement with BioNTech last year to launch clinical trials for personalized cancer treatments by 2030. Moderna and Merck & Co. have been working on an experimental vaccine that has reportedly shown promising results against skin cancer in pre-clinical trials.
The Spin
Pro-Russia narrative
After making huge progress in the early detection and treatment of cancer, Russia is now on the verge of producing a revolution in healthcare, making medical advancements that were once unimaginable. Cancer vaccines and immunomodulatory drugs are just examples of what is to come, with brain chips to restore a person's sight also being developed.
Anti-Russia narrative
As Putin has given no details about which kinds of cancer the proposed vaccines would target, or even how they would work, it's hard to believe in a word he says. One must never forget that he made similar bold claims regarding the anti-COVID Sputnik V vaccine, which turned out to be totally ineffective.