Virus therapy destroys cancer cells
Oncolytic viruses are developing into a significant, new cancer treatment, which is already being used at Docrates Clinic in Helsinki (Photo: Oskari Hellman).In spring 2010 Oncos Therapeutics received a four million euro capital investment from HealthCap, one of the biggest capital investors within the European healthcare sector. The funding has secured clinical research on the oncolytic virus CGTG-102, which has proven to be the most efficient cancer treatment at the moment.
– This is a significant step in turning an extremely promising form of treatment into a medi-cine, which would bring it within the reach of all those who are in need of it, tells Vice Presi-dent Strategy Timo Ahopelto from Oncos Therapeutics.
Exciting results
According to Ahopelto it has been estimated that up to half of the living population will get cancer at some point in their lives.
– New cancer treatments are constantly being developed. Although a lot has already been achieved, there is still much more to be done.
The most common types of cancer treatments - chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery – were developed already 50-100 years ago. New treatments, such as hormone and gene therapies have been eagerly awaited over the years, but nothing has made a real, extensive breakthrough.
Experimental virus therapies, which began in 2007, have produced exhilarating results in widespread and late-stage cancers, which cannot be treated effectively with normal cancer therapies.
– We have treated 18 different types of cancer already. The virus, which will now enter clini-cal trials, benefits seven out of ten patients. The results have been convincing.
Effective viruses
The development work has been supported by long-term research carried out by a team of virus therapy specialist from the University of Helsinki. The team is headed by Research Pro-fessor Akseli Hemminki. When divided, the oncolytic virus destroys cancer cells without damaging healthy cells.
– Copies of the divided virus find their way to new cancer cells, where copies of the virus are divided again. The viruses can destroy cancer cells also in the metastasis, where they are emanated in circulation, Ahopelto describes.
– In normal conditions the body’s immune system has a very poor recognition of cancer cells. The CGTG-102 creates an immune response to the tumor, which has great importance.
The clinical research to be carried out on the virus will continue until 2012. Docrates Clinic uses the oncolytic virus already as one form of cancer treatment.
www.oncos.com
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