Viralytics is developing oncolytic immunotherapy treatments for a range of cancers.

Viralytics’ lead investigational product, CAVATAK™, is a proprietary formulation of the common cold Coxsackievirus Type A21 (CVA21).

CVA21 binds to specific ‘receptor’ proteins highly expressed on multiple cancer types including, but not limited to: melanoma; prostate, lung, breast and bladder cancers; and multiple myeloma. 

CAVATAK™ acts to kill both local and metastatic cancer cells through cell lysis and the potential generation of an immune response against the cancer cells.  Together this mechanism of action is known as oncolytic immunotherapy. CAVATAK™’s preferential targeting of cancer cells provides the potential for low toxicity in the patient.

The company has fully enrolled a phase 2 clinical trial of intratumourally administered CAVATAK™ in the treatment of Late stage Melanoma (the CALM study) The study is being conducted at 11 US cancer clinics. The primary endpoint of the study required 10 patients from a total of 54 evaluable patients reporting immune related Progression Free Survival at six months after the first dose of CAVATAK™. This was achieved in September 2013 after only 30 evaluable patients.

Viralytics has commenced a Phase 1/2 trial of CAVATAK™ delivered systemically (intravenously). This trial, referred to as the STORM (Systemic Treatment Of Resistant Malignancies) study, will enrol patients with late stage melanoma, prostate, lung or metastatic bladder cancers. In the first stage of the STORM study CAVATAK™ will be administered as a single agent (monotherapy).  In the second stage CAVATAK™ will be administered in conjunction with commonly used chemotherapeutics, such as docetaxel or carboplatin/paclitaxel targeting only one cancer type. That cancer type will be identified as the most promising target from the first stage of the study. The STORM trial is being conducted at three UK cancer centres.

Viralytics holds granted patents in all major markets including the US and Europe. CAVATAK™ is manufactured under cGMP conditions by Sigma Aldrich in the US.

Based in Sydney Australia, the company is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: VLA) while Viralytics’ ADRs also trade under VRACY on the US OTCQX International market.