Melanoma Treatment Breakthrough: FDA Greenlights First Oncolytic Virus Therapy

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Imlygic (talimogene laherparepvec), the first oncolytic virus therapy, for the treatment of melanoma lesions in the skin and lymph nodes.Imlygic, a genetically modified live oncolytic herpes virus therapy, is used to treat melanoma lesions that cannot be removed completely by surgery. Imlygic is injected directly into the melanoma lesions, where it replicates inside cancer cells and causes the cells to rupture and die.Imlygic is manufactured by BioVex Inc, a subsidiary of Amgen Inc, based in Thousand Oaks, California.A treatment course with Imlygic consists of a series of injections into the melanoma lesions. After the initial injection, a second dose is administered 3 weeks later, followed by additional doses every 2 weeks for at least 6 months, unless other treatment is required or until there are no remaining injectable lesions to treat.Read more at Plastic Surgery Practice.