What are the results of Vietnamese people using "similar Russian" cancer drugs?

(Dan Tri) - Although not a drug with a new indication, the appearance of Pembroria is expected to open up lower-cost treatment options for patients.

The tumor was significantly reduced.

Pembroria drug with active ingredient pembrolizumab was granted circulation registration on October 31 (Photo: Getty).

Pembroria medicine with active ingredient pembrolizumab, 100mg/4ml vial produced by Limited Liability Company “PK-137”, Russian Federation was granted circulation registration on October 31, receiving great attention from public opinion.

The Drug Administration of Vietnam ( Ministry of Health ) also confirmed that the Russian cancer treatment drug that has just been licensed for circulation is not a cancer drug with a new indication.

In fact, since 2017, a cancer treatment drug with the same active ingredient pembrolizumab produced in the US called Keytruda has been licensed for circulation by the Drug Administration of Vietnam (Ministry of Health ).

MSc. Dr. Nguyen Duy Anh - expert in nuclear medicine and oncology (Photo: Minh Nhat).

Speaking to Dan Tri newspaper reporter, Master, Doctor Nguyen Duy Anh - expert in nuclear medicine and oncology said that this is essentially an immunotherapy drug in cancer treatment. The American drug Keytruda has been used to treat cancer in both public and private health facilities for many years.

According to this expert's analysis, simply put, the drug helps improve the effectiveness of the body's immune cells in finding and destroying cancer cells.

“Cancer cells have a camouflage layer that makes them undetectable by immune cells. Immunotherapy drugs will remove that camouflage layer to increase the ability of immune cells to find and destroy them,” Dr. Duy Anh analyzed.

Keytruda, produced in the US with the same active ingredient as Pembroria, has been licensed for circulation by the Drug Administration (Ministry of Health) since 2017 (Photo: Getty).

From clinical practice, this doctor prescribes immunotherapy treatment for an average of 20-30 cancer patients/year.

The main indications are lung cancer, colorectal cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, cervical cancer, breast cancer.

“Depending on the patient, the effective time will be different. Normally, for patients who respond well, the effective time will last 20-24 months, but there are also cases where the response is only within 6 months,” Dr. Duy Anh shared from the actual treatment.

According to this expert, during the time of drug response, cancer cells will be gradually destroyed so the tumor will gradually shrink. When the drug response is no longer effective, the doctor needs to switch to another treatment plan.

At this time, the doctor will base on the instructions of organizations that provide treatment regimens such as the Ministry of Health to prescribe, possibly switching to chemical drugs or targeted drugs...

This expert shared a case of a 75-year-old patient who had lung cancer for 3 years.

The patient had undergone surgery to remove the lobule containing the tumor, but the disease recurred at the end of 2024.

“When he returned, the tumor was not only in his lungs but also spread to the lymph nodes in his neck. He lost weight, lost his voice, had difficulty swallowing, was in a lot of pain and had to use oxygen almost all day,” Dr. Duy Anh shared.

Significant change in tumor size after treatment (Photo: Provided by doctor).

The patient was initially treated with a combination of less toxic chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

After the first cycle, the patient had less pain, less shortness of breath, and no significant side effects.

By the fourth cycle, the patient can talk, does not need oxygen, eats better, and is especially more active.

“After 3 treatments, the right lung tumor disappeared; the left lung tumor and the tumors in the base of the lung shrank by 50% compared to before treatment; the supraclavicular lymph nodes shrank from 5x6cm to 4.5x3.5cm; some tumors even shrank by 80% compared to before treatment,” Dr. Duy Anh shared.

Russian drug opens up hope of reducing the burden of treatment costs

According to Dr. Duy Anh, although it is not a new cancer drug, the Russian product is expected to significantly reduce the cost burden for this superior but expensive treatment method.

“The American product costs more than 60 million VND/bottle; each infusion requires 2 bottles and is infused once every 3 weeks. The cost creates a big barrier for patients in accessing this very effective treatment method,” Dr. Duy Anh shared.

The estimated price of Pembroria is about 18 million VND/bottle, with the usual dose being 2 bottles for 1 treatment cycle. Thus, the cost for a patient's treatment cycle is about 36 million VND with a dose of 200mg (2 bottles).

The Russian cancer drug is indicated for the treatment of esophageal carcinoma, cancer with high-grade microsatellite instability (MSI-H) or mismatch repair defects, cervical cancer, renal cell carcinoma, endometrial carcinoma, triple-negative breast cancer, adenocarcinoma of the stomach or gastroesophageal junction, cholangiocarcinoma.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/nguoi-viet-dung-thuoc-chua-ung-thu-tuong-tu-cua-nga-ket-qua-the-nao-20251115074419471.htm