Tilt Biotherapeutics Ltd. has raised $25.6 million in a series B round that will fund phase II development of the lead oncolytic virus in the treatment of platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.
Theriva Biologics Inc.’s stroma-targeting oncolytic virus approach yielded positive findings in metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, with the top-line readout of phase IIb data showing VCN-01 (zabilugene almadenorepvec) in combination with chemotherapy bested chemotherapy alone on primary and secondary endpoints, which included overall survival.
Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) remains the primary treatment for patients with high-risk bladder cancer, but resistance develops in 30% to 40% of cases. The use of oncolytic viruses has emerged as a promising alternative therapeutic strategy.
Finnish cancer immunotherapy specialist Valo Therapeutics Oy has raised €19 million (US$20.7 million) in a round that attracted Italian and Australian investors, and funding the company to the completion of the ongoing phase Ib trial of its lead program in the treatment of solid tumors.
Calidi Biotherapeutics Inc. has conducted studies in animals to determine the safety and efficacy of oncolytic virotherapy (OV) with CLD-201 (Supernova-1) to treat solid tumors.
Oncolytic virus specialist Theolytics Ltd. has raised £19 million (US$23.7 million) in its latest financing round, as it prepares to start phase I development of the lead product, THEO-260, later this year.
The old Viralytics Ltd. team is back together again in a new company called Immvirx Pty Ltd. that is developing oncolytic viruses to tackle the four most deadly cancers, Immvirx CEO and co-founder Malcolm McColl told BioWorld.
Researchers from Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine have reported results of preclinical evaluation of THEO-260, a novel oncolytic virus for the treatment of stromal-rich tumors. The candidate is currently in development for late-stage relapsed refractory ovarian cancer.
With readouts from three clinical studies of its lead oncolytic virus Tilt-123 due later this year, Tilt Biotherapeutics Ltd. secured €12 million (US$12.9 million) in new funding, to add to the €10 million it raised last June. That will enable the company to complete the ongoing studies, to prepare for a phase II in ovarian cancer, its lead indication, and to take forward several preclinical programs that are nearing the clinic.