Otsu/Shiga, Japan – August 4, 2015 - Takara Bio Inc. announced that in a Phase I clinical trial in Japan for oncolytic virus HF10 (development code = TBI-1401 [HF10)] against solid cancers such as melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma of skin, the first patient was administered HF10 on August 3.
HF10 is a naturally-occurring, attenuated mutant strain of the herpes simplex virus 1, and shows antitumor effect because it selectively replicates in tumor cells and destroys them. Takara Bio is conducting a Phase I clinical trial to evaluate safety and other profiles of repeat doses of HF10, at the National Cancer Center Hospital in Japan. This clinical trial enrolled 6 subjects and is scheduled to end at March 2016.
A Phase II clinical trial targeting melanoma is also under way in the U.S. Takara Bio is actively promoting clinical development aiming at commercialization of HF10-based product in fiscal 2018.
