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Virotherapy Research in Germany: From Engineering to Translation
Guy Ungerechts1,2,3, Christine E Engeland1,2, Christian J Buchholz4,5
11 Department of Medical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases and Heidelberg University Hospital , Heidelberg, Germany .
Human Gene Therapy
|September 6, 2017
Summary
German scientists are advancing cancer treatment with oncolytic viruses (OVs). These engineered viruses selectively target tumors, activate immunity, and are progressing through clinical trials, showing great promise for future therapies.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Virology
- Immunotherapy
Background:
- Virotherapy utilizes oncolytic viruses (OVs) to selectively infect and destroy cancer cells, stimulate anti-tumor immune responses, and spread within tumors.
- OVs are engineered to deliver therapeutic proteins for targeted gene therapy, with significant advancements made by German academic researchers.
- Platforms like adenovirus, measles virus, parvovirus, and vaccinia virus are being developed and refined for enhanced efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the significant contributions of German academia to oncolytic virus (OV) research and development.
- To highlight innovative strategies in OV engineering, including shielding, targeting, and arming.
- To discuss the progress of OV-based therapies in preclinical and clinical settings, with a focus on German contributions.
Main Methods:
- Review of preclinical and clinical research on oncolytic viruses (OVs) conducted by German scientists.
- Analysis of innovative strategies for engineering OVs, such as "shielding," entry/postentry targeting, and "arming."
- Examination of combination therapies involving OVs with immunotherapy, pharmacotherapy, and radiotherapy.
Main Results:
- Development of new-generation virotherapeutics based on adenovirus, measles virus, parvovirus, and vaccinia virus platforms.
- Investigation and optimization of OV immunotherapeutic properties and combination therapies.
- Increasing assessment of OV innovations in German investigator-initiated and sponsored clinical trials, including parvovirus as a prototype.
Conclusions:
- German investigators are actively translating OV innovations into clinical trials, spurred by regulatory advancements and the approval of T-VEC (Imlygic).
- Parvovirus has shown promise as an OV, progressing from preclinical studies to first-in-human trials.
- Future developments in funding, commercialization, and regulatory pathways are expected to accelerate the clinical translation of German OV research.
