Viralytics to get new US oncolytic virus patent

Viralytics (ASX:VLA) has lined up a fresh US patent covering the oncolytic virotherapy technology used in its Cavatak cancer treatment candidate.

The company already holds patents in the US and a number of other major markets covering a series of Group A Coxsackie viruses, including Cavatak.

Now Viralytics has received a notice of allowance for a new patent that covers all Coxsackie A viruses, as well as the wider Group-C human enteroviruses that attach to intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) while targeting and destroying cancer cells.

“This US patent will significantly expand Viralytics’ intellectual property portfolio in the US to cover the broad use of all Group-C human enteroviruses, including Cavatak, that target and destroy cancerous cells following binding to cell surface expressed ICAM-1,” Viralytics CEO Dr Malcolm McColl said.

“The United States is the world’s largest pharmaceutical market and broadening patent protection in this market is very valuable for Viralytics.”

Viralytics is currently trialling Cavatak in melanoma, and the treatment has shown potential in a range of other cancer types.

Viralytics (ASX:VLA) shares were trading unchanged at $0.35 as of around 1.30 pm on Wednesday.