NG34C

NG34C is a novel oncolytic herpes simplex virus type 1 (oHSV-1) engineered for the treatment of glioblastoma. It is an optimized version of the NG34 virus, which expresses the human GADD34 gene—a stress-response protein—to replace the viral neurovirulence gene ICP34.5. In NG34C, the N-terminal region of GADD34 responsible for proteasomal degradation has been deleted to enhance protein stability. This modification ensures sustained dephosphorylation of eIF2α, allowing the virus to maintain robust replication and protein synthesis even within the hypoxic and stressful microenvironment of a tumor. Preclinical studies demonstrate that NG34C triggers immunogenic cell death and significantly improves survival in glioblastoma models with reduced neurotoxicity compared to wild-type HSV-1. It is currently being produced under GMP for upcoming clinical evaluation.