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| Scientists in London have developed a revolutionary cancer-fighting drug using the cold sore virus |
A PIONEERING British cancer jab that uses the cold sore virus to destroy tumours is expected to be available on the NHS within months.
It will be the first tumour-busting virus and experts believe it will be a game changer in cancer treatment.
They predict the technique, invented by Imperial College researchers in London, will save thousands of lives.
The drug will also spare patients the brutal side effects of existing options such as chemotherapy.
The drug, Imlygic, has so far shown positive results in melanoma, one of the deadliest cancers.
The results of large-scale trials have just been published and showed that more than a quarter of patients saw their tumours shrink and for almost a fifth this response was “durable” – lasting more than six months.
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| Scientists made the breakthrough at London's prestigious Imperial College University |
Scientists have been so impressed at its effectiveness they are already working on a range of trials to test the treatment in other cancers including breast, head and neck, and bowel.
Amazingly there are many examples of patients treated with the cold sore virus who survived 18 months and longer
Professor Kevin Harrington
Professor Kevin Harrington, cancer specialist at the Royal Marsden Hospital and Institute of Cancer Research, said: “Some of the results have been staggering. “Patients with very extensive tumours around the body have gone into remission. Some had no other treatment options and a limited life-span.” He added that the drug was likely to be used for a range of other cancers once trials had been completed. He said: “This is a completely new way of treating cancer and could transform the way we treat many patients. “I am very optimistic we will see this particular vaccine licensed for other cancers such as breast and bowel. It has so much potential.”
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| The drug, Imlygic, has so far shown positive results in battling the deadly melanoma cancer |
The new jab can intelligently target cancer cells while leaving healthy ones alone, while simultaneously stimulating the immune system to fight the cancer itself. It works by introducing a specially modified form of the herpes virus by injection directly into a tumour. Although the drug has yet to be passed by British authorities, experts are expecting it will soon be approved for use both in the UK and on the continent after it was recently approved in America and also given a favourable vote by the European drug authorities. Professor Harrington said: “It has received a favourable opinion by the European Medicines Agency and it would be very unusually for it not to be approved for use by our drug authorities after this.” Regulatory authorities across the world were alerted to the drug following the results of global trials on 439 advanced stage melanoma patients whose disease had spread.
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| The new drugs also spares patients the agonising side effects of chemotherapy treament |
The trials were carried out at leading hospitals in London, Leeds, Oxford and other institutions in America and South Africa. The study findings were recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. For some patients the cancer has not returned over many months and even years.Professor Harrington said: “The patients in the trial were in a really difficult position, with few treatment options left to them. “We were able to extend lives by up to six months in those who responded to treatment but amazingly there are many examples of patients treated with the cold sore virus who survived 18 months and longer.“We know that when we treat the cancer at an earlier stage then the results are even better.” Imlygic is a genetically engineered version of the cold sore virus which causes tumours to burst apart. Scientists developed the treatment by removing genes from the virus and replacing them with human genes that jump start the bodies immune system.
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