News Desk
HANOI — Vietnam has become the first country in the world to grant official approval to Pembroria (also reported as Pembrolia), a Russian-developed cancer treatment that officials in Moscow have described as a “cancer vaccine.” The decision, announced by the Ministry of Health in late October, marks a significant step in Southeast Asia’s access to advanced immunotherapy and underscores Hanoi’s deepening medical cooperation with Moscow.
The drug, produced by Russia’s Limited Liability Company PK-137 and registered through a facility in the United Arab Emirates, contains 100 milligrams of pembrolizumab per 4 millilitres and is formulated for intravenous infusion. With a shelf life of 24 months, it is designed to help the immune system identify and destroy cancer cells. Vietnamese officials emphasized that the approval followed a September meeting between Health Minister Dao Hong Lan and her Russian counterpart, Mikhail Murashko, where both sides pledged to expand joint research, technology transfer, and clinical trials in oncology.
The drug is licensed to treat more than a dozen cancers, including melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, cervical cancer, esophageal carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, triple-negative breast cancer, endometrial carcinoma, gastric and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma, and cholangiocarcinoma.
Vietnam’s approval makes it the first nation to authorize circulation of the Russian therapy, though Moscow has promoted the drug as part of its wider oncology research program. At present, Vietnam is the only country where the drug is formally licensed for patient use, according to reports from regional health outlets.
Cancer treatment in Vietnam remains prohibitively expensive for many families. Data from Hanoi’s K Hospital show that the average annual cost of treatment is about VND 176 million ($5,000), while targeted therapies can reach VND 500 million to 1 billion ($14,500–$29,000). Health insurance typically covers only VND 52 million ($1,500), leaving patients to shoulder the majority of expenses.
Pembroria is priced at VND 18 million ($700) per vial, with patients usually requiring two vials per cycle. While not yet covered by national insurance, officials hope that cooperation with Russia will eventually reduce costs and expand access.
Vietnam’s decision reflects not only a medical calculation but also a geopolitical one. By embracing Russian biotechnology, Hanoi is positioning itself as a regional hub for advanced cancer care and signalling openness to alternatives beyond traditional suppliers. The Ministry of Health has already identified 180 ongoing clinical studies, 70 percent of which focus on cancer, and sees the Russian partnership as a way to accelerate innovation.
At present, Vietnam is the only country using this cancer drug, and officials say they hope the approval will also help boost health tourism.
