On January 27, SillaJen announced that research findings on its next-generation cancer treatment platform, SJ-650, have been accepted for publication in the prestigious journal Molecular Therapy.
Molecular Therapy, the official journal of the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT), is published by the renowned scientific publisher Cell Press. It’s a top-tier publication in gene and cell therapy, with an impact factor (IF) exceeding 12.
Acceptance in this journal requires demonstrating technical sophistication and clinical potential in the field. This publication signifies international academic recognition of SJ-650’s innovative approach and scientific merit.
SJ-650 tackles a major hurdle in existing oncolytic virus therapies: rapid elimination by the body’s complement system and neutralizing antibodies when given intravenously. Its unique design incorporates the complement regulatory protein CD55 on the virus surface, enabling it to reach cancer tissues effectively despite the body’s immune defenses.
This platform technology marks a significant breakthrough, potentially overcoming the limitations of conventional oncolytic viruses that rely on direct tumor injection.
The published study, CD55-displaying oncolytic vaccinia virus treated metastatic cancers by evading the effect of host innate and adaptive humoral responses, was a collaborative effort between Professor Lee Dong-seop’s team at Seoul National University College of Medicine and SillaJen’s researchers.
The team discovered that SJ-650 selectively accumulates in cancer tissues and effectively destroys tumors, even in the presence of neutralizing antibodies. It showed promising results in metastatic cancer models.
Notably, they verified SJ-650’s ability to evade neutralizing antibodies using serum from patients with vaccinia virus-specific antibodies. This confirms its effectiveness in conditions mimicking the human immune system, beyond just animal studies.
Furthermore, SJ-650 maintained its anti-cancer efficacy even with repeated doses, addressing a key limitation of current oncolytic virus treatments. This breakthrough opens doors for long-term treatment strategies and combination therapies. With its proven effectiveness against metastatic cancer, SillaJen anticipates expanded applications and increased market potential for their pipeline.
A SillaJen spokesperson stated that this publication in a world-renowned journal validates SJ-650’s technical prowess and global competitiveness. It is committed to advancing the next-generation oncolytic virus pipeline, leveraging the Genetically Engineered Enveloped Virus (GEEV) platform.
SillaJen is currently working with ReiThera, an Italy-based global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), to develop and scale up the production process for SJ-650 clinical trial materials.