Viral medicine to treat esophageal cancer costs 1.5 billion VND for three injections

Genetically modified virus strains are emerging as a promising cancer treatment method, marked by Japan’s official commercialization of the world’s first oncolytic virus therapy to treat esophageal cancer on August 21, according to Nikkei Asia.

The drug named Telomelysin, researched and developed by Oncolys BioPharma, a startup spun off from Okayama University, headquartered in Tokyo, was approved and licensed by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare in June. Telomelysin is a viral therapy created by genetically modifying adenovirus, the virus that causes the common cold.

The drug is prescribed in combination with radiotherapy, injected directly into the tumor area using oral endoscopy technique, with a frequency of 3 times, each time two weeks apart. This method of drug delivery makes Telomelysin especially suitable for certain patient groups, including the elderly who are at high risk of surgery, as well as those with impaired organ function who cannot respond to chemotherapy.

The listed price of this therapy is about 9.3 million yen (equivalent to 1.5 billion VND) per patient, including 3 injection doses at 3.1 million yen (505 million VND) per vial. The drug is subject to Japan’s expensive medical cost support regime. The product is distributed to the market through a cooperation agreement with Fujifilm Toyama Chemical company.

Tumor viral therapy is currently considered the fifth pillar of cancer treatment option, alongside traditional methods including surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and immunotherapy. The mechanism of this method is based on the virus only replicating and destroying tumor cells without damaging healthy cells, making side effects significantly gentler than conventional chemotherapy. However, the drug must be injected directly into the tumor.

In a clinical trial of 36 participants, tumors disappeared after 18 months in about half of the patients treated with Telomelysin combined with radiation therapy. Fever was reported as the main side effect, while there were no cases of hair loss or other serious reactions.

Mr. Yasuo Urata, President and CEO of Oncolys, affirmed that Telomelysin “offers an alternative treatment option” and “brings great practical benefits to patients”.

In Japan, it is estimated that each year more than 1,500 esophageal cancer patients undergo radiotherapy. If Telomelysin is prescribed to treat 1,000 of them, sales of this drug line could reach about 9 billion yen. Initially, Oncolys distributed new drugs through 80 medical facilities, before aiming to expand to 300 facilities. The company expects to start earning profits in 2030.

At a press conference on August 25, Mr. Yasuo Urata said the company plans to launch clinical trials for other forms of cancer in other areas including anal cancer and rectal cancer.