Oncolytic Virus Cancer Therapy

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Background Oncolytic viruses are being actively studied as novel cancer therapeutics since they preferentially replicate in and kill tumour cells while also stimulating a patient-specific immune response against cancer. Some of the first oncolytic viruses tested in clinical trials were derivatives of the human herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) that causes cold sores. While these viruses have been found to be safe, their efficacy is limited due to pre-existing immunity within the general population. Technology Overview Bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV-1) is a close relative of HSV-1 but specific for growth in cattle. As such, BHV-1 does not cause disease in humans so there is no pre-existing immunity against the virus within the human population. This ideal safety profile allows selective replication in human tumor cells without requiring the viral mutagenesis necessary in attenuated human oncolytic viruses. Despite being unable to infect healthy human cells, BHV-1 is capable of infecting and killing tumor cells from a panel of different human cancer cell lines, particularly KRAS-mutated tumor cells in lung carcinomas and colorectal cancer that are typically resistant to chemo- and radiation therapy. Stage of Development: In vitro and in vivo proof of principle data available. Preclinical models of aggressive human breast cancer tumors show that BHV-1 not only controls tumor growth by killing both primary tumor cells and cancer stem cells but also, when used in combination with a chemotherapeutic agent, reduces metastases. A clinical use oncolytic BHV-1 effective against a broad spectrum of cancers is now being developed. #17-024