Soon the prescriptions of patients suffering from skin cancer, you may receive a new drug which will be based on a form of the herpes virus derived through genetic engineering. A new weapon against melanoma is known among scientists as Talimogene Laherparepvec (T-VEC) and has already successfully passed the third stage of clinical trials, which allows you to begin official registration of the drug.

Read more...

Soon the prescriptions of patients suffering from skin cancer, you may receive a new drug which will be based on a form of the herpes virus derived through genetic engineering. A new weapon against melanoma is known among scientists as Talimogene Laherparepvec (T-VEC) and has already successfully passed the third stage of clinical trials, which allows you to begin official registration of the drug.

an international team of British and American biologists has his eye on the herpes virus because of its ability to seep into the cells and blow them up from the inside. However, he has removed two genes that are responsible for reproduction in healthy cells. But cancerous cells, whose antiviral protection is weakened, easily pass the T-Vec, and viruses them effectively destroyed. Also modified virus improves the functioning of the immune system of patients, and this influences the process of recovery.

Within the framework of clinical trials in patients with melanoma stage III—IV, which as a therapeutic drug used T-Vec, the average life expectancy was 41 months, while the control group, where patients were treated with immunotherapy, is 21.5 months. The side effects of the new drug was more weak than with commonly used chemotherapy.