U.P. Oncolytics, a company incubated at Rosalind Franklin University's Helix 51 biomedical incubator, has secured a NIH fast-track grant to further develop its novel oncolytic Zika virus therapy for glioblastoma, a deadly form of brain cancer. The $500,000 award will fund crucial preclinical studies aimed at validating the therapy's efficacy and safety, paving the way for future clinical trials.
Addressing an Unmet Need in Glioblastoma Treatment
Glioblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor, accounting for 50% of all such cases, and is characterized by its aggressive growth and resistance to conventional treatments. According to the National Brain Tumor Society, nearly 10,000 people in the U.S. died from glioblastoma in 2023. The five-year relative survival rate is only 6.9%, with a median survival of just eight months, underscoring the urgent need for new therapeutic strategies.
"Glioblastoma is highly resistant to treatment and progresses rapidly," said U.P. Oncolytics co-founder and CEO Richard Rovin, MD. "There have been very few significant advances during the last 20 years in the treatment of this devastating disease."
Oncolytic Zika Virus: A Novel Approach
U.P. Oncolytics' therapeutic approach leverages the oncolytic properties of the Zika virus, which has shown promise in selectively targeting and destroying glioblastoma cells. Preclinical studies conducted by the company suggest that the virus can overcome glioblastoma's resistance mechanisms, including the blood-brain barrier, a major obstacle in delivering drugs to the brain.
"We are looking to validate these findings with additional studies so we can progress this novel therapeutic approach towards an FDA Investigational New Drug (IND) application and, ultimately, clinical trial," said Parvez Akhtar, PhD, U.P. Oncolytics co-founder and CSO.
The NIH fast-track grant will support in vitro and in vivo studies to further characterize the oncolytic Zika virus' mechanism of action, assess its safety profile, and optimize its delivery to glioblastoma tumors. These studies are critical steps in advancing the therapy towards clinical development and ultimately, improving outcomes for patients with this devastating disease.
