Novel Oncolytic Virus Based Cancer Therapy

ID# 2019-4999
Anti-tumor activity of Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis virus (OV1) and Infectious Bursal disease Virus (OV2) in a murine breast cancer model

Technology Summary

Members of the family Birnaviridae namely genus aquabirnavirus including Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis virus (IPNV) found in cold water fish, and genus avibirnavirus, including Infectious Bursal Disease virus (IBDV) found in poultry, are well-known and well-characterized viruses that are non-pathogenic to humans. IBDV and IPNV do not replicate productively within, or induce cell death of, non-cancerous human or mammalian cells.

Penn State inventors discovered that IBDV (or “OV1”) and IPNV (or “OV2”) can infect a range of human cancer cells, replicate, and induce apoptotic cell death. In vitro, OV1 and OV2 have demonstrated oncotoxicity, including activation of apoptosis, in a range of human cancers including human lung carcinoma, renal cell adenocarcinoma, pancreatic adenocarcinoma, mammary ductal carcinoma, and lymphoma. In addition, the double-stranded RNA genomes of IPNV and IBDV stimulate the immune system, so the immune cells attack and destroy cancer. Therefore, they serve as double-pronged attack on cancer.

Application & Market Utility

OV1 and OV2 have additionally demonstrated oncotoxicity in canine mammary carcinoma cells, suggesting that these oncolytic viruses will have therapeutic application in both companion animals and humans. The researchers have generated genetically modified OV1 and OV2 OV1 with enhanced oncotoxicity and carry therapeutic payload genes. Using a murine breast cancer model (4T1.2), the researchers demonstrated anti-tumor activities of OV1 and OV2.

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