ORCA Therapeutics Publishes Comprehensive Review on Oncolytic Adenovirus Immunotherapy in European Journal of Immunology
Amsterdam, The Netherlands – July 2025
ORCA Therapeutics B.V., a Dutch biopharmaceutical company pioneering innovative oncolytic neo- adjuvant immunotherapies for cancer treatment, today announced the publication of a comprehensive review titled “Immunological Impact of Oncolytic Adenoviruses On Cancer Therapy: Clinical Insights” in the European Journal of Immunology. The review, authored by Dr. Reza Nadafi, Dr. Wenliang Dong , and Prof. Dr. Victor W. van Beusechem, provides critical insights into the current state of oncolytic adenovirus-based immunotherapy and its role in transforming cancer treatment paradigms.
The publication examines the dual mechanism of action that makes oncolytic adenoviruses particularly promising in cancer therapy: selective tumor-cell destruction combined with the induction of potent antitumor immune responses. The review synthesizes clinical data demonstrating how oncolytic adenoviruses can profoundly alter the tumor microenvironment, converting immunologically “cold” tumors into “hot” environments with increased immune cell infiltration and activation.
“This comprehensive review represents years of clinical research and development in the field of oncolytic immunotherapy,” said Dr. Wenliang Dong, CEO of ORCA Therapeutics. “Our analysis of clinical data clearly demonstrates the transformative potential of oncolytic adenoviruses in cancer treatment, particularly their ability to create conditions that enhance the efficacy of other immunotherapies, including checkpoint inhibitors. Of critical importance is our observation that sustained, long-term immune infiltration and activation is associated with clinical benefit, highlighting the need to differentiate between anti-viral and anti-tumor immune responses.”
Key Findings and Insights
The review highlights several critical aspects of oncolytic adenovirus therapy:
Dual Therapeutic Mechanism: The authors detail how conditionally replicating oncolytic adenoviruses achieve antitumor effects through direct oncolysis, apoptosis, necroptosis, and autophagy, while simultaneously activating both innate and adaptive immune responses.
Tumor Microenvironment Transformation: Clinical evidence shows that oncolytic adenoviruses can convert “cold” tumors to “hot” by increasing immune cell infiltration and activation, a conversion that correlates with improved clinical outcomes.
Combination Therapy Potential: The review examines the synergistic potential of combining oncolytic adenoviruses with immune checkpoint inhibitors, showing promising results in improving clinical response rates, particularly in tumors that traditionally show limited response to checkpoint inhibitors alone.
Long-term Immune Memory Formation: The review emphasizes the critical importance of sustained, long-term anti-tumor immune responses for achieving clinical benefit, distinguishing between temporary anti-viral responses and durable anti-tumor immunity that persists as long as tumors are present.
The publication comes at a time when ORCA Therapeutics continues to advance its lead product, ORCA-010, through clinical development. The company’s research has recently gained recognition at major oncology conferences, with clinical data demonstrating that ORCA-010 not only induces immediate specific local anti-tumor immune responses, but crucially maintains these responses long- term for as long as tumors are present. Moreover, analyses of blood samples from patients treated with ORCA-010 demonstrate an increase in circulating systemic anti-tumor immune cells, which were not present before treatment, demonstrating induction of systemic anti-tumor immune responses. This sustained immune activation represents a key differentiator in achieving durable clinical benefit.
About the European Journal of Immunology
The European Journal of Immunology is a leading peer-reviewed scientific journal that publishes high- quality research in all areas of immunology. The journal is recognized for its rigorous peer-review process and its role in advancing the field of immunology research and clinical applications.
About ORCA Therapeutics BV
ORCA Therapeutics BV is a leader in potent neo-adjuvant immuno-oncology therapeutics, specializing in oncolytic viruses and innovative gene therapy approaches. The company is dedicated to translating cutting-edge scientific discoveries into effective therapeutic solutions, addressing unmet medical needs and improving patient outcomes globally. For more information about our mission and ongoing projects, visit www.orca-therapeutics.com
Media Contact
Dr. Wenliang Dong, Ph.D., MBA
CEO, ORCA Therapeutics BV
Email: info@orca-therapeutics.com
Website: www.orca-therapeutics.com