Herpes Virus Comes Good, Now Part Of Groundbreaking Cancer Treatment

The drug uses a modified version of the herpes simplex virus (the type that causes mouth cold sores) to act as a kind of Trojan Horse, allowing the drugs to slip past cancer cells and destroy them.

Once in, the drug divides into copies repeatedly until the membranes / outer layers of the cancer cells burst, while the gene snippet part of it sends out a protein to stimulate an immune response to kill melanoma cells, both in the tumour and elsewhere in the body.

Studies have shown the drug to shrink tumours in about 16% of people who underwent the treatment, compared to just 2% who took conventional cancer drugs – although officials want to stress that it HASN’T been shown to extend life at this point. It also costs a hefty US$65,000 for about six months of treatment, and at the moment is only available in the US.

Still, all-in-all, it’s a fantastic day for science, a fantastic day for cancer treatments, and a fantastic day for herpes’ reputation, tbqh.

Picture: BSIP via Getty Images.
via AP.