Theolytics

The firm's core business is the development of oncolytic viral therapies, which are viruses engineered to selectively target and destroy cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue. Theolytics employs a phenotypic screening platform to discover and develop targeted candidates suitable for intravenous delivery. This approach involves using real tumor samples from patients to test and select the most effective viruses from a library of over 100 million variants, aiming for a more translationally relevant therapy compared to traditional lab models. This process is designed to create best-in-class products by using natural selection to identify viruses that thrive in patient-derived tumor cells, which are then enhanced through gene editing techniques like CRISPR.

Theolytics' business model is centered on advancing its pipeline of therapeutic candidates through clinical trials, with the ultimate goal of commercializing these novel cancer treatments. The company has secured significant funding from a syndicate of international life sciences investors, including M Ventures, Taiho Ventures, Epidarex Capital, Oxford Science Enterprises, and Sound Bioventures. Its lead product candidate, THEO-260, is a next-generation oncolytic adenovirus being developed for ovarian cancer. A key feature of THEO-260 is its ability to target not only cancer cells but also cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which are stromal cells that protect the tumor and contribute to treatment resistance. By destroying these fibroblasts, the therapy aims to break down the tumor's defenses. Theolytics has initiated a Phase I/IIa clinical trial for THEO-260 in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.