In a significant development for brain cancer treatment, ImmVira recently unveiled positive Phase I clinical trial results for its investigational oncolytic therapy, MVR-C5252, at the 2025 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting. MVR-C5252, an engineered herpes simplex virus-based therapy, is designed to selectively target and destroy malignant glioma cells while sparing healthy brain tissue.
The therapy is administered using convection-enhanced delivery (CED), a technique that allows direct infusion of therapeutic agents into the tumor site, bypassing the blood-brain barrier, a longstanding obstacle in brain cancer treatment.
The Phase I study primarily assessed the safety and tolerability of MVR-C5252 in patients with recurrent high-grade gliomas, including glioblastoma multiforme, one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer. Preliminary results revealed that the therapy was well-tolerated, with no dose-limiting toxicities observed across the tested groups. Encouraging signals of clinical activity were also reported, with some patients demonstrating signs of tumor stabilization.
Dr. Grace Zhou, CEO of ImmVira, stated that these early findings affirm the potential of oncolytic virotherapy as a powerful tool against aggressive brain tumors. She emphasized that MVR-C5252’s ability to penetrate and persist in tumor tissues offers a promising therapeutic advantage over conventional approaches.
Building on these results, ImmVira plans to advance MVR-C5252 into later-stage trials to further evaluate its efficacy and long-term safety.
The company also highlighted its broader pipeline of next-generation oncolytic agents aimed at various solid tumors. The findings contribute to a growing body of research positioning oncolytic viruses as a frontier in cancer therapeutics, particularly for malignancies like gliomas where treatment options remain limited.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes only. The information presented here is based on preliminary clinical trial data and should not be interpreted as medical advice or a substitute for professional healthcare consultation. Ongoing and future studies will be necessary to confirm the safety and efficacy of MVR-C5252. Readers are advised to consult healthcare professionals for medical guidance.
