Can Vir Biotechnology (VIR)’s Masked T-Cell Technology Crack the Hardest-to-Treat Prostate Cancer?

Vir Biotechnology, Inc. (NASDAQ:VIR) is one of the must-buy small cap stocks to buy. On April 13, Vir Biotechnology, Inc. (NASDAQ:VIR) announced that it had dosed the first patient in one of three dose-expansion cohorts in its ongoing Phase 1 trial of VIR-5500. VIR-5500 is an investigational treatment for metastatic prostate cancer.

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VIR-5500 is a type of therapy that redirects the immune system’s T-cells to attack cancer cells expressing the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA). It leverages Vir’s proprietary PRO-XTEN dual-masked T-cell engager (TCE) technology. The “masking” component of the technology is designed to reduce the risk of cytokine release syndrome (CRS), which is a dangerous immune overreaction that typically limits how aggressively T-cell engagers can be dosed, according to Vir.

The company said the expansion cohort is now enrolling targets patients with late-line metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, or mCRPC. These are male patients whose disease has progressed despite multiple prior treatments. According to Vir, this is the most difficult-to-treat population in prostate cancer.

Vir said plans are in motion for two additional expansion cohorts. One cohort will trial VIR-5500 in combination with enzalutamide for early-line mCRPC. The other one will be a combination cohort for metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, or mHSPC. The company expects the first patient dosing in both cohorts over the coming months.

Vir claims VIR-5500 is currently the only dual-masked PSMA-targeting TCE in clinical evaluation, and this distinguishes the therapy from other PSMA-targeted agents already on or approaching the market.

Vir Biotechnology, Inc. (NASDAQ:VIR) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company. It develops antibody-based therapies designed to harness the immune system to treat infectious diseases and cancer. Its pipeline includes programs targeting chronic hepatitis delta, oncology therapies such as T-cell engagers for solid tumors, and early-stage efforts in HIV.

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