Evaluation of a novel targeted fusion-enhanced oncolytic virotherapy platform in a canine translational clinical trial – OVICAN

Anti-tumour virotherapy represents a promising alternative to conventional anti-cancer treatments. Oncolytic viruses (OV) infect tumour cells more efficiently than healthy cells, leading to tumour destruction via direct lysis and/or induction of an anti-tumour immune response. Work in our laboratory has contributed to the discovery of retroviral envelope genes that bind to membrane receptors whose expression is increased in a range of cancers. Replicating oncolytic viruses retargeted to tumour cells have been developed (rOV). They have demonstrated specific targeting of tumours from several types of cancer, as well as ex vivo cytotoxicity in 2D and 3D human tumour models. The therapeutic efficacy of these viruses is currently being evaluated in PDX (Patient-Derived Xenografts) grafted into immunodeficient mice.
The project we are presenting here, in partnership with the start-up Viroxis, which has solid experience in the development of vaccine virotherapies in animals, consists of i) evaluating rOVs in preclinical tumour models established in immunocompetent mice, ii) studying the tolerance and efficacy of rOVs in canine patients developing spontaneous tumours, and iii) validating the use of biomarkers predictive of response to treatment on a panel of canine and human tumours.
The expected response should support the approval and launch of more advanced clinical trials to evaluate rOV as a new therapy for the treatment of human and animal cancer.