A phase III clinical trial (PrTK03, NCT01436968) is being conducted to assess the efficacy of immunotherapy drug, CAN-2409 (aglatimagene besadenovec), combined with radiation therapy in patients with intermediate-high risk localized prostate cancer. The trial is expected to finish in December 2024.

The placebo-controlled study has enrolled 711 patients in the US and Puerto Rico who have been monitored every six months for five years. The trial’s primary endpoint is disease-free survival. Patients in the treatment group receive CAN-2409, valacyclovir, radiation therapy, and possibly short-term androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). The placebo group receives a placebo, valacyclovir, radiation therapy, and possibly short-term ADT.

CAN-2409 utilizes an inactivated herpes virus to deliver a gene directly to cancer cells, which is then followed by anti-herpetic therapy with Valtrex (valacyclovir) to kill the cells containing the gene.
Oncolytic viruses are gaining traction in the world of cancer targeted treatments, offering a new and cheaper approach to precision medicine.

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