OREANDA-NEWS. Two Russian vaccines, developed using genetic technologies on the principle of the Sputnik V vaccine, are undergoing preclinical trials today, in addition, genetic tests have been created in the country that allow non-invasively determining the presence of tumor DNA in human blood, said the head of the Ministry of Health Mikhail Murashko.

During a meeting on the development of genetic technologies with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the minister spoke about a number of breakthrough decisions that were made in 2020-2021.

“We have developed several such breakthrough things in parallel. This concerns, first of all, the Sputnik V vaccine using genetic technologies - it is already in use today. We have also developed two more vaccines that are undergoing preclinical trials today. Other platforms, but nevertheless , are aimed at a similar principle of action, "- said Murashko.

In addition, according to him, genetic tests have been developed in Russia, which allow "non-invasive determination of the presence of tumor DNA directly in the blood of a person." Also during this time period "the requirements for the introduction of radiopharmaceuticals were significantly simplified."

"Last year and this year we have already developed two drugs, they are funded today and the first clinical trials with human participation have passed," Murashko said.

In August 2020, the Ministry of Health of Russia registered the world's first vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19, developed by the Gamaleya Research Center for Electrochemistry. It was named "Sputnik V". As the director of the Gamaleya Center, Alexander Gintsburg, explained, this vaccine uses adenovirus containers to deliver genes encoding the virus' corona protein.