Oncolytic Virus Therapy
Cell Genesys’ oncolytic virus therapy platform is designed to take advantage of the adenovirus’ (one of the common cold viruses) natural characteristics and use it in the fight against cancer.
Researchers have engineered the virus to selectively target and replicate within specific types of cancer cells. The virus continues to replicate within the target cell until the cell can no longer contain the virus and bursts. This results in the death of the cancer cell and is also believed to allow the newly created virus to spread to other cancer cells in which it can continue to replicate and destroy. By engineering the virus to specifically target cancer cells and leave healthy cells largely untouched, oncolytic virus therapies hold the potential to provide patients with a treatment option that has a more favorable side effect profile than that commonly seen with conventional cancer treatments such as chemotherapy.
In addition to engineering viruses to selectively target cells, select oncolytic virus therapies in development at Cell Genesys, including CG0070 for bladder cancer, are also engineered to secrete granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). GM-CSF has been shown to be a potent immune cytokine in activating the inflammatory cascade and stimulating a systemic anti-tumor immune response.
Partnership in place
In July 2003, Cell Genesys and Novartis entered into global alliance for the development and commercialization of oncolytic virus therapies. Pursuant to the agreement, Cell Genesys acquired exclusive worldwide rights to the oncolytic virus therapy products and certain related intellectual property of Genetic Therapy, Inc. (GTI), an affiliate of Novartis, as well as related intellectual property of Novartis. This alliance provides Cell Genesys with additional oncolytic virus therapy product opportunities that are in preclinical development.