Vocimagene amiretrorepvec/flucytosineis an experimentalcombination druginvolving agene therapyagent and aprodrug.It is a candidate drug to treat brain cancers.
| Combination of | |
|---|---|
| Vocimagene amiretrorepvec | Gene therapy |
| Flucytosine | Cancer drug |
| Clinical data | |
| Other names | Toca 511 and Toca FC |
Vocimagene amiretrorepvec (also known as Toca 511) is a gene therapy agent, wherein the payload is a gene encodingcytosine deaminase(CD) in a replicating, non-lyticretroviral vector.[1]
Flucytosine(also known as 5-fluorocytosine, 5-FC, and Toca FC) is anantifungaldrug. It is used in an extended-releaseformulation.Flucytosine is a prodrug of5-fluorouracil(5-FU), a cancer drug. 5-Fluorouracil does not cross theblood–brain barrierwell, but flucytosine does.[1]
The combination drug was designed to be used after a brain tumor isremoved surgically;vocimagene amiretrorepvec is intended to be injected into the tissues lining the hole where the tumor was (this region is called themargin), where the virus replicates only in cells that are dividing - in other words, cancer cells left over in the margin and immune cells that are present. Flucytosine is then administered to the person, and is converted to 5-fluorouracil in those cells by CD expressed by cells that had been infected with the gene therapy vector.[1]
By July 2017, the EMA had granted the combination priority review status, and the FDA had granted itBreakthrough Therapy DesignationandFDA Fast Trackdesignation for recurrent HGG, and an orphan designation for the treatment of glioblastoma.[2]
The combination is under development byTocagenand as of July 2017 phase 2/3 trials were underway for recurrentastrocytomaand recurrent high gradeglioblastoma.[2]
References
edit- ^abcStrebe JK, Lubin JA, Kuo JS (December 2016).""Tag Team" Glioblastoma Therapy: Results From a Phase 1 Trial of Toca 511 and 5-Fluorocytosine for Recurrent High-Grade Glioma ".Neurosurgery.79(6): N18–N20.doi:10.1227/01.neu.0000508605.38694.fd.PMID27861411.
- ^ab"Vocimagene amiretrorepvec-flucytosine gene therapy - Tocagen".AdisInsight.Springer Nature Switzerland AG.Retrieved29 August2017.