First human patient is injected with 'revolutionary' cancer-killing virus after successful tests on animals show it can shrink colon, lung, breast, ovarian and pancreatic tumours

According to The Daily Mail, scientists have injected the first human patient with a new 'cancer-killing virus' that has been shown to shrink solid tumours in animals.

The virus, known as Vaxinia, has been genetically engineered to infect, replicate in and kill cancer cells, while sparing healthy cells.

Tests on animals have shown it is able to reduce the size of colon, lung, breast, ovarian and pancreatic cancer tumours.

While other immunotherapies such as checkpoint inhibitors have been effective in certain cancers, patients often relapse and eventually stop responding to or develop resistance to this type of treatment, according to the researchers.

In contrast, Vaxinia can prime the patient's immune system and increase the level of a protein called PD-L1 in tumours, making immunotherapy more effective against cancer.

axinia, (full name CF33-hNIS VAXINIA), is a type of 'oncolytic virus' – a virus found in nature that has been genetically modified specifically to fight cancer. 

It is being developed by Imugene Limited, a company specialising in novel therapies that activate the immune system against cancer.

The Phase 1 clinical trial aims to recruit 100 cancer patients with metastatic or advanced solid tumours across approximately 10 trial sites in the United States and Australia. 

It is anticipated to run for approximately 24 months.

Patients will begin by receiving a low dose of Vaxinia, either as an injection directly into tumours or intravenously.

Once the safety of Vaxina has been demonstrated, some participants will also receive an immunotherapy drug called pembrolizumab, which improves the immune system's ability to fight cancer-causing cells.