"Killer to Cure" - herpes simplex virus in cancer therapy

Crusade Laboratories Ltd has been chosen from over 105 applicants to be among only 21 exhibitors at the Royal Society's annual summer science exhibition in London on Tuesday 3rd - Thursday 5th of July. (www.royalsoc.ac.uk)

The exhibition is aimed at the general public but particularly targets 16-18 year olds looking to pursue a scientific career.

Based at the Southern General, Crusade Laboratories Ltd is pursuing the development of the variants of Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) for the novel treatment of cancers.

Herpes Simplex, the virus associated with cold sores, can remain in the peripheral nervous system for life. When it invades the central nervous system, it causes encephalitis - the destruction of brain cells and surrounding tissue - and can be deadly.

The potentially deadly HSV has been modified to produce HSV1716 which selectively attacks cancerous cells - effectively setting a killer to catch a killer. A single gene in herpes simplex has been deleted, resulting in the virus's natural tendency to kill its host being limited to cancerous cells only. HSV1716 replicates explosively in cancerous cells.

Early work focused on brain, lung, melanoma and ovarian cancers. The team was able to demonstrate that when the modified virus was injected directly into tumours - in model systems - it replicated in tumours and not in normal tissue. Clinical trials began in human subjects began in 1997, in patients with the most severe type of brain tumour - glioma. Crusade in now in the second phase of clinical trials in glioma patients.

Also in development is a portfolio of next generation products designed to improve the efficacy of HSZ1716. These products will be applicable to an extensive range of cancers including lung, brain, skin, ovarian, and head/neck tumours.

For more information on Crusade, contact: Professor Moira Brown
Tel: 0141 445 1716
Fax: 0141 445 1715
e-mail: info@crusadelabs.co.uk <

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First published: 25 June 2001