Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer worldwide and the third leading cause of cancer death, with over 500,000 new cases diagnosed annually resulting in more than 90 percent mortality.

HCC occurs more often in men than women. It is usually reported in people aged 50-60 years of age. The disease is more common in parts of Africa and Asia than in North or South America and Europe.

In most cases, the cause of liver cancer is cirrhosis, which may be caused by:

• Alcohol abuse
• Hepatitis B or C virus infection
• Diseases that cause long-term inflammation of the liver
• Certain autoimmune disease of the liver

At present, treatment options are aggressive surgery or a liver transplant to successfully treat small or slow-growing liver tumours if they are diagnosed early. However, often diagnosis occurs late, and patients present with advanced disease. Chemotherapy and radiation treatments are often not effective, but may be used to shrink large tumours so that surgery has a greater chance of success. Sorafenib, an oral medicine, is approved for patients with advanced HCC.

There is an urgent need for new treatments that are safe and effective.

SEPREHVIR^® HSV1716 therapy

Non clinical data supports the use of SEPREHVIR^®(HSV1716) in this indication and justifies the commencement of clinical development.

Preparations are underway to commence a Phase I/ll study in the UK in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. The study will investigate administration of SEPREHVIR^®(HSV1716) at different dose levels. The safety, tolerability and biological effect of administration with SEPREHVIR^®(HSV1716) will be monitored carefully.