3io Therapeutics is developing a viral immunotherapy based on bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV-1) to enhance treatment responses for hard-to-treat cancers, including those with KRAS mutations. This non-pathogenic virus stimulates the immune system without relying on viral replication, offering a promising therapeutic platform with a strong safety profile and potential for intravenous delivery.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Many cancers, particularly those with KRAS mutations, are difficult to treat and often do not respond well to existing therapies. Current cancer treatments may not effectively stimulate the immune system to recognize and attack these hard-to-treat tumors.
Solution
3io Therapeutics is developing a viral immunotherapy based on bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV-1) to enhance treatment responses for hard-to-treat cancers. BHV-1 is non-pathogenic in humans and stimulates the immune system without relying on viral replication or direct tumor lysis. This approach offers a therapeutic platform with a strong safety profile and the potential for intravenous delivery, making it suitable for treating cancers with KRAS mutations. Preclinical studies have demonstrated broad anti-tumor efficacy and a boost to checkpoint inhibitor efficacy.
Target Audience
The primary target audience includes patients with hard-to-treat cancers, including those with KRAS mutations, and the oncologists treating these patients.
Features
- Utilizes bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV-1), a virus non-pathogenic in humans
- Stimulates the immune system without viral replication
- Demonstrates broad anti-tumor efficacy, including against KRAS-mutated tumors, in preclinical studies
- Potential for intravenous delivery, even in the presence of neutralizing antibodies
- Excellent safety profile due to the virus's non-pathogenic nature in humans
- Potential as a monotherapy with minimal genetic engineering, with cassetted payload insertion also possible
- Boosts checkpoint inhibitor efficacy, showing strong enhancement in preclinical studies