Iran Unveils First Domestic Oncolytic Virus Platform, Launches Clinical Trial for Hard-to-Treat Cancers
核心洞察
Iran has unveiled a homegrown technology platform for designing, genetically engineering, producing, and purifying oncolytic viruses that selectively replicate within and destroy cancer cells.
The first oncolytic virus (搜索) developed under the project has successfully completed laboratory and preclinical studies and has now entered Iran's first cancer virotherapy clinical trial.
The national platform, led by Dr. Ramin Sarrami Foroushani at ACECR's National Cancer Institute, is designed to support next-generation oncolytic viruses, gene therapies, and other advanced therapeutic medicinal products.
Iran has officially unveiled an advanced domestic technology platform for the design, genetic engineering, production, and purification of oncolytic viruses — a milestone that positions the country among nations pursuing viral and gene-based strategies for cancer treatment. The announcement was made on Sunday during the 46th anniversary ceremony of the founding of Jihad-e Daneshgahi (Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research, ACECR), attended by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Health Minister Mohammad-Reza Zafarghandi.
The project was carried out by the Advanced Cancer Therapy Technology Development Research Group at ACECR's National Cancer Institute, under the supervision of Dr. Ramin Sarrami Foroushani, head of the institute. According to ACECR, the initiative is scheduled to continue until October 2027.
A Platform, Not Just a Product
The newly unveiled infrastructure is described not as a single-drug project but as a national platform capable of supporting the development of next-generation therapeutic viruses, gene therapies, and other advanced therapeutic medicinal products (ATMPs). The technology integrates advanced fields including virology, genetic engineering, biotechnology, and the manufacturing of ATMPs.
"The goal is to establish an advanced infrastructure for designing, genetically engineering, producing, and purifying oncolytic viruses, along with developing prototypes and conducting laboratory, preclinical, and clinical studies," the project's organizers explained.
Oncolytic viruses are engineered to selectively target and replicate within cancer cells, destroying them while limiting impact on healthy tissue. This approach is considered particularly promising for cancers that have proven resistant to conventional therapies.
First Clinical Trial Underway
The research team successfully designed, produced, and purified the first oncolytic virus (搜索) within the project on a semi-industrial scale. Laboratory studies demonstrated its effectiveness, followed by successful preclinical studies. The product has now entered its first clinical trial in Iran for the treatment of a hard-to-treat cancer — marking the country's first cancer virotherapy project.
The project specifically targets patients suffering from treatment-resistant or incurable cancers, with the possibility of benefiting from the developed products within clinical trials, paving the way for their use in therapeutic services in the future.
Building Domestic Capacity
Iranian officials characterized the establishment of this infrastructure as a strategic step to enhance national capabilities in modern cancer therapies. The project has contributed to training specialized staff and establishing a base for cooperation with universities, research centers, and knowledge-based companies in the field of viral, gene, and cell therapy, reducing reliance on foreign products and technology.
Health Minister Mohammad-Reza Zafarghandi praised ACECR's role in cancer treatment and research, describing the institution as "an important link between scientific capabilities and the country's practical needs."
"ACECR is an important and influential institution that was established from the outset with the aim of connecting science with the needs of the country," Zafarghandi said at the ceremony. He stressed that ACECR should remain responsive to changing priorities, noting that issues such as cancer, population trends, brain drain, emerging technologies, and artificial intelligence can become key areas requiring scientific attention.
Zafarghandi also highlighted ACECR's role in providing opportunities for young researchers and professionals whose abilities may otherwise be constrained by bureaucratic barriers. "One of the important characteristics of ACECR is providing an environment for talents to emerge and develop," he said, adding that many prominent cancer surgeons in Iran had begun their professional activities through ACECR.
The platform is intended to support not only the development of next-generation oncolytic viruses but also the commercialization of knowledge-based medical products, with potential for future marketing both locally and internationally.