Good morning all
Prof Yuman Fong - the man behind IMU's CF33 Oncolytic Virus - has just published a new article on Oncolytic Virus technology, with two co-authors from his City of Hope team. The title is: "Optimizing Oncolytic Viral Design to Enhance Antitumor Efficacy: Progress and Challenges"
It's a review of approaches worldwide, with a focus on "arming" OV's with additional immune therapy capability. Note that CF33 has just such a variant with CheckVacc - CF33 armed with a PD1. https://www.imugene.com/oncolytic-virusThe article is not making any new announcements, and it's not an easy read, but it does show the depth of knowledge in the City of Hope team which brought CF33 to Imugene.
There are some very interesting statements though. In Section 13, at the bottom of page 12, the authors explain how an Oncolytic Virus "armed" with an Immunotherapy is superior to a combination of OV and a separate immunotherapy. Current Immunotherapy treatments require repeat dosing because the active agents do not self replicate in the body, they degrade rapidly, and they only operate over a short physical distance. An armed OV, however, self replicates and keeps administering the immunotherapy with which it is armed. It is also more mobile and can spread more widely - seeking out cancer cell targets. In effect, an armed OV is a mobile one hit combination therapy. (Note: Unlike the current immunotherapies referred to in the article, IMU's B-cell immunotherapies do induce an ongoing immune response).
The article is further demonstration that Imugene has developed an incredibly impressive portfolio of exciting cancer treatments, across three extremely talented teams - Prof Wiedermann and colleagues at the Medical University of Vienna; Prof Fong at City of Hope LA; and Prof Kaumaya at University of Ohio. With excellent leadership from Leslie Chong and an outstanding Board and SAB - I just can't believe it's still available at 3.1 cents per share. The only sure thing is that there is no such thing as a sure thing, but I do believe the market is severely underestimating Imugene's chances of at least one (and maybe more than one) jaw dropping deal(s).
You can read the Abstract and download a copy of the full article here:
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/12/6/1699Have a wonderful day!
Cheers
Dave 
(20min delay)