Rising Pancreatic Cancer Rates Among Young Women Highlight Urgent Need for New Treatments

In 2023, television personality Maria Menounos revealed her diagnosis with pancreatic cancer, a disease known for its low survival rates. Fortunately, Menounos had a rare, less aggressive form detected early. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), pancreatic cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Disturbingly, incidents among women under 55 are rising disproportionately compared to men.

Pancreatic cancer is notoriously difficult to detect in its early stages. Unlike breast or colon cancer, there are no standardized screening tests. According to Johns Hopkins University, diagnosis typically involves a series of imaging scans, blood tests, and biopsies, often revealing advanced-stage cancer that has spread to other organs.

Current treatments usually involve aggressive chemotherapy, resulting in severe side effects. However, new approaches, like those being developed by Rockville, Maryland-based Theriva Biologics (AMEX: TOVX), may offer alternatives. Theriva is conducting a phase 2b trial with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients using VCN-01, an oncolytic adenovirus that targets and destroys cancer tissue.

Theriva's VCN-01 is designed to work in conjunction with chemotherapy drugs to block or alter the activity of genes or proteins involved in cancer. This approach aims to extend patients' lives while reducing side effects. “We believe VCN-01’s differentiated mechanism of action has the potential to address the urgent need for new treatment options for patients with PDAC by degrading the tumor matrix and increasing tumor access,” said Steven Shallcross, Theriva’s CEO.

The trial combines VCN-01 with Gemcitabine and nab-Paclitaxel. According to the NIH, Gemcitabine has been a first-line treatment for advanced pancreatic cancer for 15 years, often used with nab-Paclitaxel. Shallcross noted that repeated systemic dosing of VCN-01 with these drugs is feasible from a safety perspective.

“We have shown that the combination has an acceptable safety profile, and can now focus on whether the repeated-dose VCN-01 regimen may lead to improved clinical outcomes for patients with PDAC and other solid cancers,” he added.

Studying pancreatic cancer, particularly in gender-related contexts, remains challenging. According to gastrointestinal oncologist Mridula Krishnan, MBBS, “Pancreatic cancer is not an easy cancer to study and, especially when it comes to gender-related studies, it’s very tough to find answers.”

Theriva's work is particularly significant because the company believes its oncolytic viruses could improve therapeutic outcomes with fewer side effects. The high unmet need in pancreatic cancer treatment is projected to exceed $6.2 billion by 2029, according to DataBridge Market Research.

Beyond pancreatic cancer, Theriva Biologics is exploring VCN-01's potential in treating pediatric refractory retinoblastoma and adult ovarian cancer, further emphasizing the broad potential of their innovative therapies.

Featured photo by PublicDomainPictures on Pixabay.

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