Optimizing Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Payloads for Oncolytic Virus-Based Immunotherapy

Objective

Despite novel innovations in immune-oncology over the last decades, up to 80% of solid cancers remain unresponsive to currently available approaches, highlighting an urgent unmet clinical need. CHECKVIR aims to develop and validate a next-generation oncolytic virus-based immunotherapy approach to overcome treatment resistance in solid cancers. The technology leverages an optimized oncolytic virus platform that is engineered to elicit immune checkpoint inhibitory functions, thereby combining efficient tumor cell killing and a potent immunotherapy approach within a single drug. Building upon innovative viral vector engineering and immune-modulating strategies developed within the ERC Starting Grant action, ONCO-VAX, CHECKVIR will enable critical proof of concept activities, leading to identification of a clinical development candidate and a de-risked path towards commercialization in order to enable real-world impact. By combining ground-breaking translational research with a preclinical validation, CHECKVIR will deliver an innovative and readily translatable solution to address the ongoing challenges in immune oncology and provide hope for improved outcomes for cancer patients worldwide who urgently need effective solutions.