viralytics limited

Viralytics is a wholly owned subsidiary of Merck and Co. Inc. (known as MSD outside the US and Canada). It is focused on the development and commercialisation of oncolytic immunotherapies that harness the power of certain viruses to preferentially infect and kill cancer cells. Our lead product candidate is CAVATAK® , a proprietary formulation of the common cold Coxsackievirus Type A21 (CVA21). It is being evaluated in Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials in various treatment settings against a range of cancer indications. Observation of CAVATAK induced changes in the tumour microenvironment suggest the potential to enhance the anti-tumour activity of checkpoint inhibitors where the agents are administered in combination. CAVATAK binds to specific receptor proteins highly expressed on a range of cancer cell types, and acts to destroy local as well as metastatic tumour cells. This is achieved through cell lysis and the potential generation of a specific immune response against the cancer cells. It can also generate an increase in immune cell infiltrates and the up-regulation of immune-checkpoint molecules such as PD-L1 in the tumour microenvironment. Through these selective mechanisms of action, our therapies are designed to provide greater tolerability and efficacy, offering hope of an improved quality of life to patients with cancers that are difficult to treat with current therapeutic approaches.