Big news from the cancer frontier! Researchers have developed NDV-GT, a genetically modified Newcastle Disease Virus, and it’s showing real promise (1). This “sheriff” virus is engineered to express a porcine gene, α1,3GT, to boost the anti-tumor effect of this oncolytic virus. Once specifically infected with the NDV-GT, tumor cells then express the non-self αGal antigen. This triggers a hyperacute immune response – meaning the body’s immune system goes into overdrive, recognizing the cancer cells as foreign and launching a powerful attack. It’s like sending a whole crew of immune cells to round up those pesky tumor varmints. Additionally, the virus itself also helps by directly killing cancer cells by inducing apoptosis mediated by the inhibition of the Akt-IKK-NF-kB pathway.
The team first showed the safety and efficiency of this new intravenous treatment at eradicating tumor cells in a preclinical study on a CRISPR-mediated primary hepatocellular carcinoma monkey model. More importantly, in a Phase 1 clinical trial with 20 patients battling various advanced, treatment-resistant cancers (the outlaws of the cancer world!), NDV-GT achieved a 90% disease control rate (1). That’s a mighty impressive feat. This research suggests NDV-GT could be a game changer, offering a beacon of hope for patients with limited options.
At Medimabs, we offer custom antibody services to support the development of innovative therapies like these, helping equip the “sheriffs” of science with the tools they need to blaze new trails in immunotherapy. Want to wrangle some cancer cells yourself? Learn more about our services at Medimabs.