CanVirex
CanVirex is
a spin-off from the Heidelberg University Hospital, developing next generation measles viruses for cancer immunotherapy and vaccination against infectious diseases.
Our vectors
are safe, effective and commercially scalable, resulting from 15 years of academic research.
Our network
is part of a world-renowned professional, clinical development infrastructure at Heidelberg University Hospital.
Our team
consists of leading experts in the field of molecular immunology, clinical oncology, drug development and corporate management.
Versatility of CanVirex's platform technology
Measles vaccine vectors as transgene delivery platform
CanVirex’s measles vector-based platform represents a highly promising technology for cancer immunotherapy and vaccine development against infectious diseases, e.g. COVID-19. Our technology allows us to genetically modify measles viruses with a so called transgene – a therapeutic snippet of genetic code – that is inserted into the virus genome. When these modified viruses are administered to a patient, they selectively infect and reproduce in target cells. Depending on the transgene, the viral vector can be used for cancer therapy (by encoding immunotherapeutics) or for vaccination (by encoding pathogen-specific antigens).
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Translational program
Our development is based on a strong scientific rationale. Especially in oncology, every cancer patient has unique therapeutic challenges which needs to be addressed in a personalized approach. Thus, it is of major importance to run accompanying translational research that will give us information on the clinical performance of the investigated drug in a given cancer patient.
As a first step, a study testing our lead oncolytic measles virus candidate for clinical proof of concept will be initiated in 2021. The translational program, supported by CanVirex, routinizes testing of molecular signatures and predictive biomarkers.
Results from the first translational program will allow for a personalized therapeutic approach by rational selection of cancer patients in following clinical trials.
CanVirex featured in
“Viruses can cause severe, even malignant diseases. However, they can be converted into effective cancer immunotherapy.”
in Nature Magazine
The CanVirex platform deploys the oncolytic properties of recombinant measles vectors for innovative cancer treatments. In addition it has now provided a novel COVID-19 vaccine candidate that is approaching clinical trials.
Contact
CanVirex AG operates out of its headquarter in Basel, Switzerland. Research and clinical activities related to CanVirex’s pipeline are performed at the Heidelberg University Hospital, Germany.