Date: 2017-07-24
Type of
information: Presentation of results at a congress
phase: preclinical
Announcement: publication of results in Cancer Research
Company: Transgene (France)
Product: TG6002
Action
mechanism:
- oncolytic virus/immunotherapy product. TG6002 is a replicative and propagative viral vector derived from Vaccinia virus expressing the FCU1 gene. Resulting from modifications of the viral vector, the propagation of TG6002 is restricted to the tumors, reducing toxicity to normal cells while inducing the breakdown of cancer cells, called oncolysis. The expression of the FCU1 gene in cancer cells infected by TG6002 enables the transformation of the non-cytotoxic pro-drug, flucytosine (5-FC), into 5-FU, a widely used chemotherapy. Because this mechanism of action is different from standard therapies such as chemotherapy, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies and radiotherapy, TG6002 could potentially be used both in combination with those treatments or as a monotherapy once a cancer becomes resistant to standard therapy.
Disease:
Therapeutic
area: Cancer - Oncology
Country:
Trial
details:
Latest
news:
- • On July 24, 2017, Transgene announces that new preclinical data on its next generation armed engineered oncolytic virus platform have been published in Cancer Research. The publication presents key findings of Transgene’s latest improved vaccinia virus backbone expressing the Fcu1 gene, which is engineered to transform the non-cytotoxic pro-drug, flucytosine (5-FC), into 5-FU, a widely-used cancer chemotherapy (“Immune checkpoint blockade, immunogenic chemotherapy or IFN-? blockade boost the local and abscopal effects of oncolytic virotherapy”).
- This next generation oncolytic virus demonstrated its ability to induce complete response in the primary tumor and immune-mediated regression of distant metastases. It induced immunogenic tumor cell death and generated a systemic immune response. This response is associated with an increase of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells infiltration (particularly PD-1+ CD8+ T cells) and a decrease of regulatory T-cells in the tumor.
- The therapeutic activity of this next generation oncolytic virus was further enhanced when combined with either chemotherapy or with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) such as anti-PD-1 or anti-CTLA-4 antibodies.
- The data in the Cancer Research publication was originally presented in a poster in April 2017 at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting (see below). These preclinical data further strengthen the preclinical data package of Transgene’s most advanced next generation oncolytic virus, TG6002, which is expected to enter the clinic in the coming months in patients with recurrent glioblastoma.
- • On April 4, 2017, Transgene has presented new preclinical data of a next generation armed engineered oncolytic virus at the American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting.
The poster entitled “Local and abscopal effects in oncolytic virotherapy are boosted by immune checkpoint blockade, immunogenic chemotherapy, or IFNAR blockade” presents preclinical results of a modified vaccinia virus expressing the Fcu1 gene (VVWR-TKRR-Fcu1), which is able to transform the non-cytotoxic pro-drug, flucytosine (5-FC), into 5-FU, a widely
used cancer chemotherapy. Results show that this next generation armed oncolytic virus is able to induce an immunogenic cell death and thus to generate a systemic immune response in immunocompetent mouse models.
These preclinical data further strengthen the preclinical data package of Transgene’s most advanced next generation oncolytic virus, TG6002. TG6002 is due to enter the clinic in H1 2017 in patients with recurrent glioblastoma.
Is
general: Yes
