On November 11, 2022 KaliVir Immunotherapeutics, Inc., a biotech company developing cutting-edge, multi-mechanistic oncolytic viral immunotherapy programs, reported the presentation of data on its lead pre-clinical candidate VET3-TGI presented in a poster session at the 37th Annual Meeting of the Society for Immunology of Cancer (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper) in Boston, Massachusetts (Press release, KaliVir Immunotherapeutics, NOV 11, 2022, View Source [SID1234623871]). VET3-TGI is based on KaliVir’s unique Vaccinia Enhanced Template (VET) platform, capable of generating potent novel oncolytic vaccinia viruses with modifications to maximize viral replication and to enhance intravenous delivery and spread. VET3-TGI incorporates modifications granting the expression of CXCR3, IL-12 and a TGF-β inhibitor, allowing for efficient trafficking to the tumor, activation of anti-tumor immune responses and overcoming of local immunosuppressive activity.
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Using multiple in vivo mouse tumor models, the functionality and therapeutic activity of VET3-TGI were tested and the mechanism of action and toxicity profile were explored. An approximate 1 log increase in the systemic delivery of the therapy was achieved through the expression of CXCR3, a level that was maintained in the face of pre-existing anti-viral immunity, marking VET3-TGI’s superior intravenous delivery potential. This systemic delivery resulted in between 60 to 90% complete responses in different immunocompetent mouse tumor models. Further analyses demonstrated profound changes in the immune profile within the tumor microenvironment subsequent to treatment with VET3-TGI.
"We are encouraged by the robust pre-clinical data, particularly with the verification of enhanced delivery to the tumor following IV injection, and efficacy in pre-immune mice," said Stephen Thorne, PhD, CSO and co-founder of KaliVir. "Not only does this data demonstrate the power of KaliVir’s VET platform, it also shows that VET3-TGI, as our lead pre-clinical candidate, has the potential to effectively treat multiple different tumor types."