Oncovita has entered into a licensing agreement with Institut Pasteur, granting it an exclusive worldwide license to develop, manufacture and commercialize therapies based on the immuno-oncolytic measles virus platform.
 
The licensed technology is based on changes in the measles viral genome designed to dramatically increase its anti-tumor properties. The viral genomics and vaccination unit of Institut Pasteur, Paris, France has previously successfully developed and patented other genetically modified measles vaccine viruses to be used as recombinant vaccines which are currently under clinical development (chikungunya, zika, dengue fever and others).
 
For the anti-cancer candidates, Oncovita has been selected to be the exclusive holder of the worldwide rights on the modified measles virus technology.
 
“Oncoviruses as anti-cancer therapies gather more and more interest by recognized research centers as well as by the oncology medical community. We have already demonstrated the efficacy of our first candidate (MVP 06-01) in many in vitro and in vivo non-clinical models of various types of solid tumors,” said Frederic Tangy, PhD, founder of Oncovita. “Some tolerance and efficacy clinical results obtained at the Mayo Clinic are also very promising with another measles virus, demonstrating its possible use to treat some cancers.”
 
“We are particularly pleased that the major advances achieved by the viral genomics and vaccination unit have resulted in the creation of a new French biotech company,” said Isabelle Buckle, executive vice president, technology transfer and industrial partnership at Institut Pasteur. “We will continue to support this project, which looks very promising. We will closely follow its development with all the more interest as the Pasteur Institute is one of Oncovita’s shareholders.”