Russia has announced that its experimental cancer vaccine, Enteromix, has successfully completed preclinical trials, sparking cautious optimism for new treatment options against one of the world’s deadliest diseases.

Head of the Russian Federal Medical-Biological Agency (FMBA) Veronika Skvortsova, informed delegates at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok that the vaccine is “now ready for use”, pending official approval.

Years of research including three years of mandatory preclinical testing showed tumor reductions of 60 to 80 percent depending on the type of cancer, along with improved survival rates among test subjects.

The vaccine primarily targets colorectal cancer, but researchers are also developing versions for glioblastoma a highly aggressive brain cancer and melanomas including rare ocular melanoma.

While some sources reported that the vaccine achieved 100% efficacy in trials, Newsweek noted it could not verify this claim.

The FMBA has yet to announce a timeline for human trials or widespread availability but Skvortsova’s remarks suggest that Russia may soon pursue regulatory approval.