Vesicular stomatitis virus expressing human interferon-beta and sodium-iodide symporter (VSV-IFNβ-NIS) (VSV-IFNβ-NIS)

VSV-IFNβ-NIS, also known as Voyager-V1, is an engineered oncolytic virus derived from the Indiana serotype of the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) (Naik et al., 2012). It is designed to selectively infect and replicate within cancer cells, which often have defective antiviral responses, leading to direct cell lysis (oncolysis). The virus is genetically modified to express two human proteins: interferon-beta (IFNβ) and the sodium-iodide symporter (NIS). IFNβ is included to enhance the safety profile by inducing an antiviral state in normal cells and to stimulate a robust anti-tumor immune response (Cook et al., 2017). The NIS protein facilitates the uptake of iodine isotopes, allowing for non-invasive monitoring of viral distribution via PET or SPECT imaging and potentially enabling targeted radiovirotherapy (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02923466). This therapeutic agent is primarily investigated for the treatment of refractory hematologic malignancies, such as multiple myeloma, and various advanced solid tumors (Mayo Clinic, 2020).

Other names

Voyager-V1VSV-hIFNbeta-NISrVSV-hIFNbeta-NISRecombinant vesicular stomatitis virus-human interferon beta-sodium iodide symporter

Oncolytic viral replication leading to direct tumor cell lysis, induction of systemic anti-tumor immunity via IFNβ expression, and NIS-mediated uptake of radioactive iodine for imaging and therapy.