Japan launches world's first viral drug for esophageal cancer

Japan has announced the start of commercial sales of the world’s first oncolytic viral drug for the treatment of esophageal cancer, according to Nikkei news agency.

The drug uses genetically modified viruses that target and destroy cancer cells while preserving healthy tissue.

This type of viral therapy is considered a promising approach in the fight against cancer.

Tokyo-based Oncolys BioPharma developed the drug after overcoming complex regulatory hurdles in Japan, where large-scale production of such viruses requires strict quality control.

The drug’s testing protocol is unique, as its therapeutic effects may take several weeks to appear depending on how widely the virus spreads within the tumor.

Oncolytic viruses multiply inside cancer cells, destroying them from within and stimulating the body’s immune response.