Russia has administered its first personalized cancer vaccine to a patient, the Russian Ministry of Health announced on Wednesday, marking what officials described as a major step in the country’s experimental cancer treatment program.

According to the ministry, the vaccine was given to a patient in Russia as part of an early-stage clinical rollout of a domestically developed personalized cancer therapy. The treatment is designed to target specific characteristics of an individual patient’s tumor, rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach.

Russian officials said the vaccine was developed using advanced technologies, including mRNA-based methods, allowing scientists to create tailored treatments aimed at helping the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells more effectively.

Health authorities cautioned that the vaccine remains in the experimental stage and further clinical trials are required to determine its safety and effectiveness before it can be made widely available.

The announcement comes as several countries and pharmaceutical companies around the world are racing to develop personalized cancer vaccines, with researchers hoping the technology could transform cancer treatment in the future.

Russian officials said additional patients are expected to receive the personalized cancer vaccine as part of ongoing trials.