First Human Clinical Trial of Cancer Killing Virus Has Begun

Researchers at California’s City of Hope National Medical Center have begun the first clinical trials of a virus that kills cancer cells. The CF33-hNIS virus (referred to as Vaxinia) is an oncolytic virus, a genetically-engineered variety that habitually targets cancer cells while ignoring healthy cells. Vaxinia also works overtime by delivering specially-engineered white blood cells, known as CAR-T cells, to solid tumors. While CAR-T cells are vital to helping the body’s immune system recognize cancer cells as a threat, solid tumors possess immunosuppressive microenvironments that act as barriers, preventing the CAR-T cells from entering and doing their job. By infecting solid tumors, Vaxinia can deliver the CAR-T cells to this environment and help the immune system tackle cancer the way it’s supposed to — all while proactively killing off cancer cells along the way.

City of Hope has been working with biotechnology company Imugene Limited to develop Vaxinia since late 2020. The two organizations previously tested Vaxinia in mice, and the first human trial began in April and will last through the end of 2024.

In the Phase I trial, 100 participants will receive Vaxinia on the first and eighth days of the first portion of the trial, some of whom will receive it intravenously, while the rest will receive direct tumor injections. Additionally, some participants will undergo combined treatment using the drug pembrolizumab, which has historically been used to treat specific types of cancers. The trial is designed to help calibrate the ideal dosage for adult patients and determine whether Vaxinia is safe for human use. If the trial is successful, Vaxinia could be studied in larger participant groups — and even everyday healthcare settings — in the future.