CAN-3110 is a modified HSV with specific properties that can be leveraged in diverse clinical indications. Namely, CAN-3110:
■ Is engineered to provide oncolysis through tumor replication specifically in Nestin expressing cancer cells.
■ Has demonstrated statistically significant survival benefit in preclinical models of brain cancer
■ Has demonstrated a favorable tolerability profile, not reaching a dose limiting toxicity in the dose range tested in our Phase 1 trial.
■ Has shown a preliminary clinical signal in a difficult to treat brain cancer population, critically defined by a highly immunosuppressive environment.
■ Has been engineered to replicate in a range of other indications characterized by Nestin expression.
■ Is derived from the HSV platform that also provides the potential to support expansion of our pipeline with novel agents.
CAN-3110 is an engineered HSV where the expression of ICP34.5, the gene responsible for viral replication, has been placed under the control of a tumor-specific Nestin promoter. This modification of the viral genome enables us to maintain the function of ICP34.5, an HSV protein that allows virus replication even in the presence of a suppressive interferon response, under a strict control and only in tumor cells.
ICP34.5 is often deleted in other herpes simplex viruses that may be less tumor selective with an intent of achieving favorable safety profile, but this often results in weak viruses characterized by poor replication ability and an ability to generate limited immune response.
Nestin is a cytoskeletal protein that is overexpressed in glioma cells, but it is absent in the healthy adult brain. In CAN-3110, ICP34.5 expression is controlled by the Nestin promotor enabling viral replication selectively in tumor cells. This replication-competent HSV construct provides tumor-specific cytolytic activity in animal models, while sparing healthy cells.
Candel is evaluating the effects of treatment with CAN-3110 for recurrent glioblastoma. For more information on this clinical study, please visit our Clinical Trials page.