Reflections from AACR 2025: Advancing Oncolytic Viral Therapies (OVTs)
We recently had the opportunity to attend the 2025 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) conference in Chicago. It is one of the largest and most prestigious gatherings in the world for cancer researchers, clinicians, and biotech companies. It was an invaluable experience—an opportunity not only to present our latest findings but also to connect with peers and explore the exciting evolution of oncolytic viral therapies (OVTs). Here’s a recap of the key trends we observed and how they align with our ongoing work.
Emerging Trends in Oncolytic Viral Therapies at AACR 2025
Diverse Therapeutic Approaches
This year’s conference highlighted 29 posters dedicated to OVTs, with contributions from a wide range of institutions and companies. The focus was primarily on Adenovirus and Vaccinia vectors, which remain the go-to species in the field. However, we noticed a clear uptick in interest around RNA viruses, especially Rhabdoviruses like Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV). These viruses were highlighted for their increased replication speed and potency, as well as their ability to evade common immune resistance mechanisms. This resonates with our own approach—using VSV as a base for engineering new and more effective therapies. In fact, we published a review on the challenges OVTs face and why we believe VSV is an ideal candidate for future cancer treatments (read the review here). Other notable viruses presented included Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 (HSV-1), Human Enteric Picornavirus, and Canine Adenovirus Type 2 (CAV-2).
The posters covered a broad range of cancers, including pancreatic, colorectal, lung, breast, ovarian, and head and neck cancers, along with sarcomas, gliomas, and other solid tumors. While intratumoral (IT) delivery remains the most commonly used approach, there was a noticeable increase in systemic administration (IP and IV), which is an encouraging sign of expanding OVT applications.
Innovative Payloads and Engineering Strategies
This year’s AACR also saw exciting advancements in payload engineering designed to enhance the efficacy of OVTs. Many researchers are continuing to explore cytokine expression (e.g., IL-12, IL-15) and immune checkpoint inhibition through viral payloads—approaches that have shown promise in previous years. We also saw a rise in combination therapies, particularly pairing OVTs with checkpoint inhibitors and chemotherapy, which remain at the forefront of current research.
But what was particularly exciting were the newer approaches emerging in the field. For example, there was a notable focus on targeting PANoptosis or mimicking activated caspase-3 enzymes to induce robust cancer cell death—innovative strategies that could lead to more efficient and specific therapies.
Our Approach: Using VSV for Safer, More Potent Therapies
At Humane Genomics, we continue to focus on Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV), a key reason we stand out in the OVT landscape. Unlike many other viruses, VSV has a unique ability to overcome the common antiviral responses that can limit the effectiveness of traditional OVTs. At AACR 2025, we shared exciting updates on our engineered glycoprotein construct and our cancer-specific aptazyme platform, both designed to enhance safety and maintain potency—especially in liver cancer models.
The discussions and feedback we received at the conference reaffirmed our belief that our platform is both distinct and clinically promising. In particular, we’re encouraged by the potential of combining selective infection and selective replication to generate highly targeted, highly effective therapies. So far, we’ve seen great results in hepatoblastoma and liver cancer models, where our approach has shown significant promise.
We are particularly proud of the progress we’ve made using our synthetic biology platform and advanced genome engineering methods (learn more in our latest publication here). We’re actively addressing key challenges that OVTs have faced in the past, including specificity, safety, and potency.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Oncolytic Viral Therapies?
AACR 2025 showcased the rapid advancements being made in the OVT field, leaving us feeling energized about our work and the progress being made across the industry. We are more motivated than ever to continue translating these scientific insights into clinical outcomes that could one day benefit patients worldwide.
As we move forward, we remain committed to pioneering safer, more effective cancer treatments. We’re excited about the collaborative opportunities that lie ahead and look forward to expanding our partnerships to accelerate our research.
Stay tuned for more updates on our continued progress, upcoming publications, and presentations in the near future.