rF-TYR + rV-TYR

**rF-TYR + rV-TYR** is a combination of two recombinant viral cancer vaccines, both encoding the full-length human tyrosinase gene, used as an investigational immunotherapeutic vaccine regimen for malignant melanoma. - **rF-TYR** is a recombinant fowlpox virus engineered to express human tyrosinase, constructed from the POXVAC-TC strain of fowlpox with the gene inserted via homologous recombination and controlled by the vaccinia 40K promoter. - **rV-TYR** is a recombinant vaccinia virus, using the Wyeth (New York City Board of Health) strain, also expressing the full-length human tyrosinase gene, inserted into the viral thymidine kinase locus and controlled by the same promoter. The strategy involves a prime/boost regimen, commonly with rF-TYR priming, followed by rV-TYR boosting, to enhance tyrosinase-specific immune responses in melanoma patients. Both products were manufactured by infecting primary chicken embryo dermal cells and were administered intramuscularly at high viral titers. Fowlpox virus does not replicate in humans; vaccinia virus is replication-competent in mammalian cells, necessitating special precautions. Developed by Therion Biologics Corporation for clinical study in melanoma[3].