CAVATAK + pembrolizumab

**CAVATAK + pembrolizumab** is an investigational combination therapy exploring synergistic immunotherapeutic approaches for advanced cancers, notably melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), bladder cancer, and prostate cancer[3][4][6][7]. CAVATAK (also referred to as CVA21, V937, or gebasaxturev) is an oncolytic virus therapy based on the common cold virus coxsackievirus A21, developed to selectively infect and lyse tumor cells. It acts by binding to specific cell-surface molecules (ICAM-1 and DAF) overexpressed in many cancer cells, leading to viral replication, tumor cell lysis, and secondary activation of the host immune system[3]. Pembrolizumab (Keytruda), a monoclonal antibody targeting programmed cell death receptor 1 (PD-1), blocks PD-1-mediated immune suppression, thereby permitting T-cell–mediated tumor destruction[2][6]. Trials use intratumoral or intravenous administration of CAVATAK with intravenous pembrolizumab.

Brand names

Keytruda

Other names

CAVATAK + pembrolizumabCVA21 + pembrolizumabV937 + pembrolizumabgebasaxturev + pembrolizumabKeytruda + CAVATAK