pembrolizumab + gebasaxturev

Pembrolizumab + gebasaxturev is an investigational combination therapy of two agents with distinct immunotherapeutic modalities.\n- **Pembrolizumab** is a humanized monoclonal antibody that acts as an immune checkpoint inhibitor by targeting the programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) receptor on lymphocytes, thus blocking the interaction with its ligands (PD-L1 and PD-L2) and restoring T-cell-mediated immune responses against tumor cells. This mechanism disrupts tumor immune evasion and enables cytotoxic T lymphocytes to kill cancer cells[2][4][6].\n- **Gebasaxturev** (also known as GSK 3178220, GSK 3178220A, or "formerly known as "GSK3178220A") is an oncolytic herpes simplex virus type 1 genetically modified to selectively replicate within, and induce lysis of, cancer cells and stimulate anti-tumor immune responses. Gebasaxturev is engineered to express multiple immune stimulatory molecules (GM-CSF and others), increasing immunogenic cell death and recruiting immune effectors.\nThe rationale for combining these agents is to leverage oncolytic viral lysis and immune stimulation from gebasaxturev with immune checkpoint blockade from pembrolizumab, aiming for synergistic anti-tumor effects.\nThe combination has been or is under evaluation in early-phase clinical trials for advanced solid tumors, such as melanoma, but as of now, clinical approval is not established.

Other names

PD-1 inhibitor + oncolytic herpes simplex virus type 1