A California hospital is testing the effectiveness of a genetically modified cancer-killing virus known to attack tumours. In the trial, people with advanced solid tumours will be injected with the virus, known as Vaxinia, in the hope that earlier lab successes are replicated in humans.
City of Hope Hospital and oncology company Imugene Limited believe the virus will shrink many of the most common cancerous growths, giving hope to millions.
The therapy takes viruses found in nature and genetically modifies them to infect, replicate in and kill cancer cells, while sparing healthy cells. While immune checkpoint inhibitors have been effective in certain cancers, patients often relapse and eventually stop responding to or develop resistance to this type of treatment.
