Theriva™ Biologics Announces Presentation of Data from VCN-01 Retinoblastoma Phase 1 Clinical Trial at ASCO 2025 and Investigator Meeting to Review Topline Data from the VIRAGE Phase 2b Trial of VCN-01 in Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

Core Insights - Theriva Biologics is set to present safety and clinical outcomes from a Phase 1 study of VCN-01 in refractory retinoblastoma patients at the ASCO Annual Meeting in Chicago on May 31, 2025 [1][3] - The company will also review topline data from the VIRAGE Phase 2b clinical trial of VCN-01 in first-line metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) during the ASCO conference [1][4] Company Overview - Theriva Biologics is a diversified clinical-stage company focused on developing therapeutics for cancer and related diseases, particularly in areas with high unmet medical needs [1][9] - The company's lead candidate, VCN-01 (zabilugene almadenorepvec), is an oncolytic adenovirus designed to selectively replicate within tumor cells and degrade tumor stroma, enhancing the efficacy of co-administered therapies [5][9] Clinical Study Details - The Phase 1 clinical study evaluated the safety and tolerability of two intravitreal injections of VCN-01 in patients with intraocular retinoblastoma who were refractory to other treatments [1][6] - The study was conducted at Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona Children's Hospital, and the results are expected to provide insights into the long-term efficacy of VCN-01 in this pediatric cancer population [3][6] Expert Commentary - Guillermo Chantada, an expert in retinoblastoma, highlighted VCN-01's promising safety profile and its potential to address treatment failures in refractory cases [3] - The oncolytic virus specifically targets tumor cells and is of particular interest due to its non-chemotherapeutic nature, which may reduce the risk of treatment-induced malignancies in children [3] Market Context - Retinoblastoma is the most common type of eye cancer in children, with an incidence rate of approximately 1 in 14,000 to 1 in 18,000 live newborns [8] - The average age of diagnosis is around 2 years, and the disease poses significant challenges in preserving life and preventing severe treatment-related complications [8]