Theriva Biologics Advances Pipeline to Tackle Difficult-to-Treat Cancers
August 1st, 2024 12:35 PM
By: Advos Staff Reporter
Theriva Biologics is making strides in developing oncolytic virus therapies aimed at improving survival rates for difficult-to-treat cancers such as brain tumors and pancreatic cancer. The company's recent clinical trials show promising results, offering hope for future cancer treatments.
Theriva Biologics (AMEX: TOVX), headquartered in Rockville, Maryland, is on the forefront of developing oncolytic virus therapies aimed at treating difficult-to-treat cancers. According to Cancer Research UK, while cancer survival rates have doubled in the last 40 years, progress has been uneven, particularly for brain tumors and pancreatic cancers. Theriva is committed to changing this narrative.
Theriva recently announced positive results from one of its ongoing clinical trials. The company's oncolytic viruses are engineered to tackle a range of challenging tumor types. CEO Steven A. Shallcross explained that solid tumors are complex structures that are difficult for chemotherapy to penetrate. Theriva aims to overcome this barrier through its innovative therapies.
One of Theriva's leading candidates, VCN-01, is a stroma-degrading oncolytic virus designed to improve tumor access for co-administered cancer therapies and the patient's immune system. This virus has shown encouraging results in clinical trials for pancreatic cancer, retinoblastoma, and head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. The trials are being conducted in collaboration with the School of Medicine at the University of Leeds and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
In addition to VCN-01, Theriva is developing next-generation oncolytic viruses such as VCN-11, which uses Albumin Shield technology. These are currently in preclinical development in collaboration with the Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL) and the Catalan Institute of Oncology.
Theriva is also investigating SYN-004, an oral β-lactamase, in collaboration with Washington University in St. Louis. This enzyme is being evaluated as a preventive measure against acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD), a serious complication in bone marrow transplantation for hematologic cancers.
The market potential for Theriva’s therapies is substantial. Precedence Research estimates that the global market for solid tumor cancer treatments could reach $532 billion by 2032, while other analysts project it could exceed $885 billion by 2033. Grand View Research estimates the market for retinoblastoma treatments alone will surpass $3.3 billion by 2030, driven by advancements in medical technology and rising incidence rates.
Theriva presented the clinical trial design for the VIRAGE Phase 2b trial of VCN-01 at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting. The principal investigator, Dr. Rocio Garcia-Carbonero, expressed optimism about VCN-01's unique mechanism of action, which aims to induce a robust immune response against cancer.
More information about Theriva’s oncolytic virus therapies is available on the company’s website.
Source Statement
This news article relied primarily on a press release disributed by News Direct. You can read the source press release here,