oHSV-sCD44

oHSV-sCD44 is an oncolytic herpes simplex virus type 1 (oHSV-1) engineered to express a soluble form of the CD44 receptor (sCD44). Developed by researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), this therapeutic candidate is designed to treat glioblastoma by targeting the hyaluronic acid (HA)-CD44 signaling axis. In the tumor microenvironment, HA often interferes with viral spread and promotes tumor stemness and therapy resistance through its interaction with membrane-bound CD44. The oHSV-sCD44 virus expresses sCD44, which acts as a dominant-negative decoy receptor that binds to extracellular HA, thereby blocking its signaling through cellular CD44. This mechanism reduces the stemness of glioblastoma stem cells, induces DNA damage, and sensitizes tumors to radiation. Preclinical studies indicate that oHSV-sCD44 enhances viral replication, promotes tumor cell lysis, and stimulates an anti-tumor immune response characterized by increased T-cell infiltration.