BT-001
BT-001 is a multifunctional oncolytic virus
encoding for an anti-CTLA4 antibody and GM-CSF
BT-001 is the first oncolytic virus from Invir.IO® and is optimized to act as a Trojan horse.
Two specific “weapons” have been integrated into the Vaccinia viral DNA: an anti-CTLA4 antibody, which was developed by BioInvent, and the cytokine GM-CSF, which triggers the body’s immune response.
Discover how BT-001 works

Collaboration agreement
BioInvent and Transgene are together creating a novel armed oncolytic virus that will be able to infect and selectively replicate within the tumor, inducing cancer cell destruction, and to elicit a strong immune response that is further enhanced by the local expression of the immune checkpoint inhibitor and the cytokine. This novel oncolytic virus is expected to deliver better treatment outcomes with an improved safety profile as the patient is not exposed to the the anti-CTLA4 antibody at a systemic level.
Transgene and BioInvent have entered into a clinical trial collaboration and supply agreement with MSD, a tradename of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ., USA, to evaluate the combination of the oncolytic virus BT-001 in combination with MSD’s anti-PD-1 checkpoint therapy KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) in a Phase I/IIa clinical trial for the treatment of patients with solid tumors.”
Clinical trials
Indication | Phase | |
---|---|---|
Solid tumors | Phase I/IIa | More information |
Key figures
SITC 2021, Semmrich et al, Poster, see poster
SITC 2020, Semmrich et Al, Poster, see poster
Semmrich et al., Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer 2022;10:e003488. See poster
- September 20, 2023 - Transgene advances its innovative immunotherapy pipeline and extends financial visibility until the end of 2024
- May 25, 2023 - Transgene and BioInvent report positive Phase Ia data on oncolytic virus BT-001 in solid tumors
- June 28, 2022 - Transgene and BioInvent announce clinical trial collaboration and supply agreement with MSD to evaluate BT-001 in combination with KEYTRUDA®
- Comprehensive preclinical studies of BT-001: an oncolytic vaccinia virus armed with Treg-depleting @CTLA4 and GM-CSF
- Vectorized Treg-depleting αCTLA-4 elicits antigen cross-presentation and CD8+ T cell immunity to reject “cold” tumors
Semmrich M, Marchand J, Fend L, et al
Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer
Download the publication here
Publication - 3D organoids derived from patients’ lung tumors: a tool for investigating the potential of oncolytic viruses
Hélène Lê et al.
EUROoCS 2021
Download the Poster here
Poster Presentation