Latest news – March 2018:

Report on Phase I/II of the clinical studies So far, five patients are participating in the clinical trial of the AdVince virus. The target is 12 patients, so a further 7 patients are needed. “We are extremely grateful for all the contributions we have received,” says Magnus Essand. “But although we now have sufficient funding to cover the clinical trial, further donations are very important to guarantee that the research can continue.”

Watch a film showing a status report on Phase I/II of the clinical trials

Research progress since the Fund was established in 2012:

August 2012: The discovery at Uppsala University of ‘cancer-eating viruses’ receives attention in the UK The work of the research team on an oncolytic virus receives media attention, notably in a series of articles by journalist Alexander Masters in The Telegraph. Masters’s articles attracted great attention and he also started a crowdfunding campaign in the UK. A fund was established at Uppsala University to benefit continued research and clinical tests.

June 2013: Donation enables clinical trial of new cancer treatment Uppsala University receives a donation of SEK 14 million from entrepreneur Vince Hamilton for research on the virus therapy for neuroendocrine tumours. This enables planning to begin for the world’s first human study. Watch a film featuring Magnus Essand and Vince Hamilton

January 2016: Green light for clinical trial The Swedish Medical Products Agency and the Regional Ethical Review Board in Uppsala give the green light for a clinical trial of an oncolytic virus. This will be the world’s first clinical study of a genetically modified virus that specifically attacks neuroendocrine tumours. The virus therapy is named AdVince, in recognition of Vince Hamilton’s commitment and his strong support for this research.

“Our first patient has just signed up for the therapy and more will gradually be able to receive treatment. The first 12 patients will take part in a Phase I study in which the dose is gradually increased to see whether there are any side-effects. When we have established a tolerable dose, further patients will be treated in a Phase IIa study, in which the main purpose will be to look at treatment effects,” says Magnus Essand.

The actual treatment will take place at Uppsala University Hospital, under the direction of Dr Kjell Öberg, Professor Emeritus of Oncological Endocrinology at Uppsala University.

Watch a film of Magnus Essand, Justyna Leja-Jarblad and Kjell Öberg.(Updated December 2016.)