Pfizer and Western Oncolytics announce immuno-oncology alliance

Pfizer is partnering with Western Oncolytics on a new collaboration that aims to further their understanding of immuno-oncology treatments.

The development, license and option agreement will advance Western Oncolytics' novel oncolytic vaccinia virus, WO-12, which has been engineered to kill cancer cells while sparing healthy cells, thereby stimulating anti-cancer immune responses.

Under the terms of the agreement, Pfizer and Western Oncolytics will collaborate on preclinical and clinical development of WO-12 through to phase I testing. Following completion of these trials, Pfizer has an exclusive option to acquire WO-12.

WO-12 has potential applications across multiple tumour types and bolsters Pfizer's already strong immuno-oncology portfolio.

Dr James Merson, chief scientific officer for vaccine immunotherapeutics at Pfizer, said: "We believe that the real advances in immuno-oncology will come from novel combinations, and cancer fighting viruses and vaccines could play a key role in helping transform cancer treatment and potentially enable us to treat more patients."

This comes after the firm strengthened its inflammation and immunology portfolio with the completion of its acquisition of Anacor Pharmaceuticals last month.