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Merck Turns to Tumor-Killing Viruses to Boost Immune Cancer Drugs

  • Oncolytic viruses resurge in the wake of checkpoint inhibitors
  • Merck plans to pay $390 million for experimental virus therapy
Lung Cancer.

Illustration: Science Photo Library

Scientists have tried to muster viruses to hunt and kill tumors for almost 70 years, with limited success. That may be changing.

Now, microbes are playing an important role in an emerging branch of cancer immunotherapy that’s attracting some of the world’s biggest drugmakers. Merck announced plans to buy Australia’s Viralytics Ltd. last week to gain an experimental cold virus-based treatment that may bolster the utility of Keytruda, its blockbuster cancer medicine.