Talimogene Laherparepvec: Moving From First-In-Class to Best-In-Class

Talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC) is a modified oncolytic herpes Simplex virus, type 1 (HSV-1) encoding granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF). T-VEC is adapted for selective replication in melanoma cells and GM-CSF was expressed to augment host anti-tumor immunity. T-VEC is indicated for the local treatment of melanoma recurrent after primary surgery and is the first-in-class oncolytic virus to achieve approval by the FDA in 2015. This review will describe the progress made in advancing T-VEC to the most appropriate melanoma patients, expansion to patients with non-melanoma cancers and clinical trial results of T-VEC combination studies. Further, strategies to identify predictive biomarkers of therapeutic response to T-VEC will be discussed. Finally, a brief outline of high-priority future directions for investigation of T-VEC and other promising oncolytic viruses will set the stage for a best-in-class oncolytic virus to bring the maximum benefit of this emerging class of anti-cancer agents to patients with cancer.

Automated summary

This review provides an overview of the advancements in using T-VEC for melanoma patients and its expansion to non-melanoma cancers. The clinical trial results of T-VEC combination studies are also discussed, along with strategies to identify predictive biomarkers. The review sets the stage for future investigations and highlights the potential of oncolytic viruses in treating cancer.