Abstract 383: ONCR-021 as a systemic intravenous synthetic RNA virus immunotherapy for the repeat treatment of cancer

Abstract

Oncolytic viruses (OV) have shown great potential to improve clinical outcomes when dosed intratumorally, however, their therapeutic efficacy when intravenously administered is likely limited by the rapid emergence of neutralizing antibodies. To overcome this limitation, we developed Synthetic RNA viruses consisting of a replication competent viral genomic RNA (vRNA) encapsulated within a lipid nanoparticle (LNP) for IV administration. Upon dosing and delivery of this infectious RNA payload, the vRNA initiates viral replication and virus production in neoplastic cells leading to oncolysis and tumor destruction. This formulation enables repeat intravenous dosing of a replication competent oncolytic virotherapy even in presence of circulating neutralizing antibody to the virus. Here we present ONCR-021, an LNP formulation of Coxsackievirus A21 (CVA21) vRNA. ONCR-021 vRNA encodes a novel ICAM1-dependent strain of CVA21 that results in greater in vitro and in vivo oncolysis compared to the previously described CVA21 Kuykendall strain. ONCR-021 is broadly oncolytic in cancer cell lines in vitro and is intended for clinical development in NSCLC, RCC, and HCC based upon the viral tropism. IV-administration of ONCR-021 vRNA results in rapid initiation of viral replication, oncolysis, and potent anti-tumor efficacy, even in the presence of circulating CVA21 neutralizing antibodies. This efficacy is principally driven by CVA21 amplification in situ after delivery to tumor cells and we demonstrate viral replication, virion production and spread within the tumor after dosing. We also observe only modest and transient production of CVA21 in healthy tissues of transgenic mice expressing the CVA21 entry receptor human ICAM1. Consistent with these findings, high doses levels of ONCR-021 were well-tolerated in this model. Altogether, these preclinical data support the development of ONCR-021, a novel synthetic oncolytic virus designed to overcome the challenges of repeat intravenous administration of viral immunotherapy for the treatment of disseminated cancers. Citation Format: Jeffrey Bryant, Agnieszka Denslow, Jacqueline Hewett, Lingxin Cong, Ana De Almeida, Jennifer Lee, Judy Jacques, Sonia Feau, Daniel. Wambua, Adrienne Yanez, Pam Shou-Ping Wang, Jessica Deterling, Matthew Scott, Jason Auer, Brian B. Haines, Christophe Quéva, Lorena Lerner, Edward M. Kennedy. ONCR-021 as a systemic intravenous synthetic RNA virus immunotherapy for the repeat treatment of cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 383.