NV1020

Cancer-killing viruses, so-called oncolytic viruses are specific herpes simplex viruses, or HSVs, generally known as the cause of cold sores. These viruses are used, however, in a modified and "disarmed" form in order to make them utilizable as a therapeutic agent in humans. This is achieved by switching off certain genes that normally enable the virus to multiply in healthy cells, which would destroy these cells. As a result of this genetic modification, the HSVs are able to reproduce in tumor cells solely, since only these offer an environment that compensates for the loss of the removed viral genes. Consequently, the virus is able to replicate in the tumor cells, selectively destroying them without harming healthy tissue.