Theriva Biologics Makes Strides in Treating Hard-to-Cure Cancers with Oncolytic Virus Therapies

Theriva Biologics (AMEX: TOVX), a leader in oncolytic virus therapies, is making significant progress in its mission to improve survival rates for hard-to-treat cancers. The company's novel approach uses viruses designed to target tumors, addressing a critical need in cancer treatment where progress has been slow for certain types of the disease.

According to Cancer Research UK, while overall cancer survival rates have doubled in the last 40 years, some forms of brain tumors and pancreatic cancers have seen minimal improvement. Theriva Biologics aims to change this landscape with its innovative therapies.

The company's leading candidate, VCN-01, is a stroma-degrading oncolytic virus designed to break down the protective barrier of tumors, potentially improving access for co-administered cancer therapies and the patient's immune system. Theriva has reported encouraging results from clinical trials in pancreatic cancer (PDAC), retinoblastoma, and head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC).

Steven A. Shallcross, CEO of Theriva, explained the challenge these therapies aim to overcome: "Solid tumors are complex organ-like structures consisting of cancer cells, vasculature, and tumor matrix. This dense extracellular matrix, also known as stroma, hampers the intratumoral accessibility of chemotherapy, making them hard to treat."

Ongoing clinical trials conducted in collaboration with prestigious institutions such as the School of Medicine at the University of Leeds and the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine are evaluating VCN-01 in other difficult-to-treat cancers. Additionally, Theriva is developing next-generation oncolytic viruses, including VCN-11, which incorporates novel Albumin Shield technology.

The company is also exploring an approach to prevent acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) patients, in collaboration with Washington University in St. Louis. This research could potentially benefit patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation for hematologic cancers.

The market potential for Theriva's therapies is substantial. Precedence Research estimates that the global commercial opportunity for solid tumor treatments could reach $532 billion by 2032. Other analysts project the market to exceed $885 billion by 2033.

In the specific case of retinoblastoma, Grand View Research forecasts the global treatment market to reach more than $3.3 billion by 2030, driven by advancements in medical technology and rising incidence of the disease.

Dr. Rocio Garcia-Carbonero, principal investigator and country coordinator of Theriva's main clinical site in Spain, expressed optimism about the company's approach. In a recent interview, she noted, "I have high hopes for VCN-01 due to its unique mechanism of action, which differs from traditional chemotherapy. VCN-01 aims to induce a robust immune response against the cancer."

Source Statement

This news article relied primarily on a press release disributed by News Direct. You can read the source press release here,