BioCentury
ARTICLE | Targets & Mechanisms

Astellas lays groundwork for oncolytic virus combination therapy

How Astellas is using cytokine expression to improve oncolytic virus antitumor T cell immunity

February 8, 2020 2:31 AM UTC

With its next-gen oncolytic virus, Astellas is reinforcing the promise of improved efficacy for versions that make cytokines stimulating T cells as well as innate immune cells.

After more than two decades in development with limited clinical efficacy, oncolytic viruses have returned to the spotlight; since 2016, at least nine pharmas have acquired or partnered with oncolytic virus developers. The modality's resurgence came after developers realized that oncolytic viruses not only selectively lyse tumor cells but also stimulate immune responses to the released tumor antigens (see “Checkpoint Inhibitors Are Bringing Oncolytic Viruses Back Into the Spotlight”). ...