Russia is currently developing what could become the world’s first vaccine against AIDS, the deadly viral disease caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

If successful, this groundbreaking vaccine would mark a historic advancement in the fight against AIDS.

According to Russia’s state news agency RIA Novosti, cited by Russia Today, the state-run Gamaleya National Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology has already begun work on the vaccine. Experts expect the vaccine to be ready for market within two years or possibly sooner.

Vladimir Gushchin, head of the Epidemiology Department at the Gamaleya Center, explained in an interview that the vaccine is being developed using advanced mRNA technology. Unlike traditional vaccines, which use inactivated or weakened pathogens, mRNA vaccines employ synthetic proteins that stimulate the body’s immune system to mount a strong defense against the virus.

Gushchin said, “The core ingredient will be an antigen designed to generate a broad immune response. We have started producing this antigen and hope to make the vaccine available within two years or less.”

AIDS is a collection of symptoms caused by HIV, which attacks the immune system, leaving patients vulnerable to infections and illnesses that can be fatal. The first AIDS case was identified in the United States in 1981, and the virus HIV was isolated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the same year.

HIV spreads through unprotected sex, sharing contaminated needles, and from mother to child during childbirth or breastfeeding. Sub-Saharan Africa remains the most affected region globally, with millions of deaths annually.

While the number of people living with AIDS has declined globally since 2010, the disease remains a major health challenge. According to the United Nations, 1.3 million people were living with AIDS worldwide in 2024—a 40% reduction from 2010.

Several countries have previously attempted to develop an AIDS vaccine, but none have succeeded so far.

The Gamaleya Center is renowned for developing Sputnik V, the first COVID-19 vaccine, which demonstrated over 97% efficacy and has been administered in more than 70 countries worldwide.