MeV-VP22SCD

MeV-VP22SCD is an **engineered oncolytic measles vaccine virus** encoding a fusion protein composed of *yeast cytosine deaminase–uracil phosphoribosyl transferase* (SCD) and the herpes simplex virus protein *VP22*. The fusion with VP22 aims to enhance bystander effect by facilitating intercellular transport of the suicide gene product. Upon infection of tumor cells, MeV-VP22SCD selectively lyses cancer cells (oncolysis) and confers them the ability to convert the prodrug **5-fluorocytosine (5-FC)** into the cytotoxic compound **5-fluorouracil (5-FU)**, leading to additional targeted tumor cell killing. While designed to target resistant tumor populations in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), MeV-VP22SCD appears to have slightly less oncolytic potency in vitro than MeV-SCD, the non-fused variant. Its anti-tumor effects are achieved through a combination of direct viral oncolysis and suicide gene-mediated prodrug activation[1][3][5]. MeV-VP22SCD is investigational and not approved for medical use.