A human, who is apparently a participant in a medical trial, has been injected with a virus that aims to kill cancer cells in the body. The virus has shown positive results in animals. The treatment is called viral oncolytic therapy. As mentioned in research and studies, oncolytic viruses are a form of immunotherapy that uses viruses to infect and destroy cancer cells. Experts have noted that viruses infect or enter our cells and then use the cell’s genetic machinery to replicate. The new “cancer killer” virus, known as Vaxinia, was designed to kill cancer cells and avoid healthy cells.
The Newsweek report mentioned that over a period of approximately two years, the trial will aim to enroll 100 cancer patients across the United States.
According to Imugene Limited, which is a clinical cancer research company, the treatment can also help people’s immune systems to fight cancer. Imugene Limited is developing Vaxinia virus, (full name CF33-hNIS VAXINIA). The company specializes in new therapies that activate the immune system against cancer.
In the press release published in EurekAlert on May 17, it is mentioned that Imugene and City of Hope announce the “first patient dosed in a phase 1 trial to test cancer-killing oncolytic virus against solid tumors”. Experts hope the virus boosts the body’s immune response against cancer.
The statement added that once patients in the single therapy group have been treated and “acceptable safety” has been demonstrated, new study participants “will receive the investigational oncolytic virus in combination with immunotherapy.” pembrolizumab”.
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Daneng Li MD, Principal Investigator and Assistant Professor in the Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutic Research at City of Hope, said in the statement: “Our previous research has demonstrated that oncolytic viruses can stimulate the immune system to respond and kill cancer, as well as stimulate the immune system to be more responsive to other immunotherapies, including checkpoint inhibitors.
“Now is the time to further enhance the power of immunotherapy, and we believe CF33-hNIS has the potential to improve outcomes for our patients in their fight against cancer,” he added.
In the Phase 1 clinical trial, the virus will be injected into people with solid tumors who have received at least two previous types of treatment. The reports added that the virus is either injected directly into the tumor or into a vein.
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