Made in Siberia
Novosibirsk antitumor drug based on oncolytic viruses has passed preclinical tests
The drug for the treatment of breast cancer, created on the basis of neutralized smallpox vaccine virus by the Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine of the SB RAS and the State Scientific Center of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector", has shown its effectiveness during preclinical studies. Now it is planned to proceed to the first stage of clinical trials, which will be held in St. Petersburg.
Scientists took the smallpox vaccine virus, the one that vaccinated a significant part of the Russian population, cut out two genes from its genome responsible for its virulence (the ability to cause disease or death of the organism – ed.), and embedded two other genes there that enhance oncolytic activity.
"Once in the body, the virus finds a tumor cell, infects it and begins to multiply there (while healthy cells remain unaffected). On the one hand, it produces proteins that kill this cell, and on the other hand, it manages to multiply in it, and, getting into the bloodstream, it begins to spread through the body and look for other targets," says Vladimir Richter, Candidate of Biological Sciences, head of the Biotechnology laboratory of the IHBFM SB RAS. – Thus, we have a drug that effectively suppresses the main tumor, searches for and suppresses the growth of metastases and is, in fact, self-replicating and self-producing. Theoretically, a single injection of it into the body allows you to maintain antitumor activity for a sufficiently long time period."
Researchers position this drug as a means against breast cancer. However, they have evidence that it is also effective against some other types of cancer (this is shown in cell cultures and animal models).
At the moment, the drug has successfully passed preclinical studies. "Literally next week we are going to submit documents to the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation to obtain permission for the first stage of clinical trials," says Vladimir Richter. – During it, the safety of the drug will be checked. We have a partner, a company from St. Petersburg, which will organize and conduct these studies, they are now preparing a package of documents; clinics have been selected."
It is assumed that the first stage of clinical trials will take a year and a half. Scientists hope to start it in the fall. If everything goes well, it will be completed by about the middle of 2022, and it will be possible to move on to the next stages.
A potential manufacturer has also been found – an agreement on long-term cooperation with Vector-BiAlgam has been signed. "One of their main products is a vaccine against hepatitis A virus, the method of obtaining it is very similar to the technology of obtaining our drug, so we integrated there quite easily," Vladimir Richter notes.
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