Innovative Trial Offers Hope for Pancreatic Cancer Patients

In 2023, television personality Maria Menounos acknowledged that she had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Fortunately for Menounos, physicians detected the rare, less aggressive form of the disease when it was still in an early stage. Pancreatic cancer is currently the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in America, and incidents of pancreatic cancer are increasing, especially among women under 55. The lack of clear symptoms and effective screening methods makes it difficult to detect and treat pancreatic cancer in its early stages.

Theriva Biologics is conducting a phase 2b trial with patients diagnosed with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) using their lead therapy candidate, VCN-01, in combination with two forms of chemotherapy drugs. The company's innovative approach with oncolytic virus therapies holds promise for improving outcomes and reducing negative side effects in pancreatic cancer patients.

Theriva's work is important due to the high unmet need for safe and effective treatments for pancreatic cancer. The company's efforts could potentially address this need and make a significant impact on the lives of patients with PDAC and other solid cancers.