A new genetically engineered virus has delivered a one-two punch against advanced cancers in initial findings from a phase I trial.

Researchers found that RP2—a modified version of the herpes simplex virus—showed signs of effectiveness in a quarter of patients with a range of advanced cancers.

Patients on the trial had cancers including skin, esophageal and head and neck cancer and had exhausted other treatments, including by failing to respond to checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy.

The early findings—presented at the 2022 European Society for Medical Oncology Congress (ESMO)—suggest cancer-killing viruses could potentially offer hope to some patients where other forms of immunotherapy have not worked.

Testing the safety and dosage of RP2

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