Viralytics granted Australian patent for Echoviruses for treatment of cancers

Viralytics (ASX: VLA, OTC: VRACY) has been granted an Australian patent covering the use of Echoviruses for the treatment of all cancers bearing expression of the integrin α2β1.
This is a similar process to the company’s lead candidate CAVATAKTM which uses an ICAM-1 receptor instead of the integrin α2β1 to lock onto the surface of cancer cells.
In December, Viralytics reported all patients in the first group of its Head and Neck Cancer Phase I trial (three patients) have completed treatment - receiving a single intratumoral injection of CAVATAK™.
The patent received, also covers the right to use EVATAKTM (trademarked name of Viralytics’ proprietary formulation of the Echovirus Type 1) in conjunction with other oncolytic viruses such as the Company’s lead product CAVATAKTM.
The Company has received granted patents for this family of viruses from the USA, India, South Africa and Singapore.
Professor Darren Shafren (Chief Scientist Officer and inventor of the technology) said, “Numerous cancers, in particular ovarian and gastric cancers, have elevated surface levels of integrin α2β1."
"The presence of integrin α2β1 allows our family of echoviruses to lock onto the surface of cancer cells, leading to rapid infection and cellular destruction.”
Shares in VLA increased 5.3% to 4.0c on the news.   http://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/4108/viralytics-granted-australian-patent-for-echoviruses-for-treatment-of-cancers-4108.html