DISC-HSV

DISC-HSV (Disabled Infectious Single Cycle-Herpes Simplex Virus) is an oncolytic viral vector platform derived from Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), specifically engineered for cancer immunotherapy applications. The vector is genetically modified by the deletion of the essential glycoprotein H (gH) gene, which restricts the virus to a single round of infection in non-complementing cells, thereby enhancing its safety profile by preventing the production of infectious progeny. DISC-HSV is typically engineered to serve as a delivery vehicle for therapeutic transgenes, most notably granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). This approach aims to induce local tumor cell lysis while simultaneously recruiting and activating antigen-presenting cells to stimulate a systemic anti-tumor immune response. Preclinical studies in murine carcinoma models have demonstrated that DISC-HSV can lead to significant tumor regression, particularly when used in combination with other immunotherapeutic agents such as OX40 ligand (OX40L) or dendritic cell-based vaccines.

Other names

Disabled Infectious Single Cycle-Herpes Simplex VirusgH-deleted HSVDISC-GM-CSF