This is pretty badass!
Researchers have shown that they have created a virus that can target tumors and destroy them, without harming anything healthy!
In a study published in the journal Nature on Wednesday, scientists at institutions including the University of Ottawa and privately held biotech company Jennerex Inc said a small, early-stage trial of experimental viral therapy JX-594 found that it consistently infected tumors with only minimal and temporary side effects.
The experimental virus will next be tested in a mid-stage trial of patients with liver cancer.
“With chemotherapy you get drastic side effects,” said Dr. John Bell, chief scientific officer at Jennerex and senior scientist at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. “Patients on this treatment only had 24-hour flu symptoms, and nothing after that.”
Only 24 hours of flu symptoms?!?!
That’s incredible! Let’s hope the trials continue to have this kind of success. Cancer is an asshole, and we say FCancer!
[Image via AP Images.]