At CD BioSciences, we deliver fully integrated immune-profiling and combination-therapy evaluation services tailored to oncolytic virus (oHSV) approaches in the context of human herpesvirus (HHV)-associated research. Our service module Immune Profiling & Combination Therapy Evaluation under the "Oncolytic Virus (oHSV) Therapy Solutions" suite is designed for drug-discovery and pre-clinical stage clients (biotech companies, academic translational groups, research institutions) focused on leveraging HHV-derived or HHV-targeted oncolytic viruses.
Below is a detailed overview of our service offering:
Service Scope
Our solution encompasses:
- Comprehensive immune phenotyping of in vitro and in vivo models infected with HHV-derived or HHV-engineered oncolytic viruses, including flow cytometry panels, cytokine/chemokine profiling, transcriptomic immune-signature analyses, and spatial immune-cell profiling (e.g., multiplex immunofluorescence or IHC).
- Evaluation of combination therapy regimens: e.g., oncolytic virus plus immune checkpoint inhibitor, adoptive cell therapy, vaccine boosting, or small-molecule immunomodulators.
- Detailed biodistribution and viral-shedding support, immune-toxicity assessment, and immune-memory read-outs (where appropriate) in preclinical models.
- Data deliverables mapped to translational "go/no-go" decision-criteria, enabling clients to nominate robust pre-clinical candidates for subsequent IND-enabling studies.
Why Focus on HHV & Oncolytic Virus Platforms?
The use of oncolytic herpesviruses (oHSVs) has emerged as a promising immunotherapy modality: viral infection supports antigen release, triggers innate immune activation, and turns immunologically "cold" environments into "hot" ones.
However, monotherapy often falls short—hence the critical need for immune-profiling and rational combination strategies to maximise efficacy.
For HHV-related cancers (e.g., those driven by Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) or Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)), integrating oncolytic virus strategies with immune-targeted approaches is particularly relevant—our service specialises in this translational niche.
Our Distinctive Expertise & Advantages
a) Deep Domain Focus on HHV Biology
As a company dedicated to HHV (human herpesvirus family) research and solutions, we bring a nuanced understanding of latent/lytic HHV biology, viral-host immune interactions, and viro-immunotherapy translation. This offers advantages in assay design (e.g., latent reservoir cell lines, lytic induction, viral antigen presentation) and immune-profiling relevant to HHV-driven disease settings.
b) Integrated Immune Profiling and Functional Read-outs
Our immune profiling goes far beyond phenotyping: we implement functional assays (cytokine release, cytotoxic T/NK cell activation, checkpoint-ligand modulation, T-cell exhaustion markers), spatial context (tumour micro-environment immune infiltrates), and multiplex read-outs that support mechanistic understanding of combination therapy effects.
c) Rational Design of Combination Regimens
Leveraging the latest literature on combination therapies with oncolytic viruses (e.g., oncolytic herpesviruses + immune checkpoint inhibitors) we assist in designing, executing and analysing pre-clinical combination studies. For example, synergy of oHSV + checkpoint blockade has been documented.
d) Translational-Ready Data Package
Our deliverables are structured for pre-clinical decision-making: detailed methods, CoA-style assay certificates (where applicable), clear metrics (e.g., immune-cell infiltration change %, cytokine fold-change, hazard markers), and interpretation anchored in regulatory-conscious language (for IND-enabling readiness, even though our service remains pre-clinical).
e) Customisable Workflows
We recognise every HHV-oncolytic programme is unique—therefore our service is modular. Clients may select from any of the following modules: immune phenotyping only; combination regimen screening; in vivo biodistribution + immune read-outs; immune-memory assessment; predictive biomarker identification. We adapt timelines and deliverables accordingly.
Typical Service Workflow
- Consultation & Assay Design – Jointly we review your HHV/oncolytic virus construct, disease model (in vitro/in vivo), anticipated combination partners (e.g., ICI, CAR-T, vaccine) and propose a tailored immune-profiling and combination-therapy plan.
- Assay Qualification & Baseline Profiling – We run baseline assays: viral replication kinetics, immune-activation baseline, phenotyping of model system.
- Combination Treatment Implementation – We execute the proposed combination regimens, monitor for viral replication, immune activation, cell-kill/read-out and safety (cytokine release, toxicity markers).
- Immune Profiling & Mechanistic Read-outs – Flow cytometry panels, cytokine multiplex, transcriptomic (optional), spatial immune profiling. We assess key endpoints: CD8+ T-cell infiltration, NK activation, T-cell exhaustion (PD-1/TIM-3/LAG-3), macrophage phenotype (M1 vs M2), immune-checkpoint ligand expression changes.
- Data Integration & Interpretation – We integrate immune data with viral and combination-therapy outcomes, provide interpretation of immune-modulatory effects, biomarkers of response/resistance, and recommendation on next-stage candidate prioritisation.
- Final Report & Decision Package – Delivery of final report with executive summary, detailed methods, raw data, graphical endpoints, interpretation aligned with translational readiness. For clients targeting HHV-driven malignancies or latent reservoir targeting, we also highlight immune-microenvironment implications, latent/lytic switch effects, and combination strategies to overcome immune-evasion.
- Optional Follow-Up Support – Post-report consultation, presentation to client stakeholders, assay transfer support or next-phase planning (e.g., IND-enabling design) if desired.
Key Considerations & Our Assurance of Quality
- We employ rigorous assay QC: we maintain CV < 10% for key flow-cytometry read-outs, include internal QC controls, and document all procedures in accordance with preclinical good-laboratory-practice (GLP-style) standards.
- For cytokine/chemokine multiplex analysis, we provide full certificate of assay performance (LLOD, ULOD, replicate variability) to support downstream regulatory readiness.
- For immune-checkpoint and exhaustion marker panels, we align with current literature benchmarks (e.g., PD-1/PD-L1 blockade synergy with oncolytic herpesvirus) to ensure relevance.
- We provide data interpretations in the context of translational biology: e.g., explaining how increased CD8+ T infiltration post-oHSV + ICI indicates conversion of a "cold" tumour microenvironment into a "hot" one, which is a known mechanism of oncolytic virus immuno-sensitisation.
- Our service is research-stage only. We clearly specify that we do not engage in clinical-stage or commercial manufacturing. All deliverables are intended for pre-clinical use by our clients in the drug-discovery and early-development space.
Why Partner with CD BioSciences?
- Specialisation in HHV-related Platforms: Unlike general oncolytic virus service providers, we have domain expertise in human herpesviruses (HHV) — including latent/lytic biology, viral antigen expression, immune-evasion mechanisms — which gives us an edge in designing immune-profiling for HHV-related indications.
- Integrated Combination Therapy Focus: We recognise that oncolytic virus monotherapies increasingly require immune-combination strategies. Our immune profiling is built from the ground up to evaluate combinations, not just monotherapy read-outs.
- Pre-clinical Decision Support: We structure our reports and interpretation to enable "go/no-go" decisions for progression into IND-enabling or translational programmes.
- High-Quality Data Documentation: We deliver data packages compliant with rigour expectations (traceability, assay validation, reproducibility) that satisfy the needs of biotech sponsors targeting regulatory-conscious investors, partners or licensors.
- Tailored and Modular: We adapt our service to your project: whether you are at hit-to-lead stage with an HHV-derived oHSV, or at candidate-nomination stage evaluating combination potential, we can scale.
Typical Use Cases
- A biotech company developing an oHSV construct derived from HHV-8 (KSHV) for Kaposi's sarcoma uses our service to test the combination of their oHSV + anti-PD-1 antibody in murine xenograft models, assessing CD8+ T-cell infiltration, PD-L1 modulation, and viral shedding/immune-toxicity.
- An academic translational group studying EBV-positive lymphoma integrates your oHSV therapy with NK-cell adoptive infusion; we execute immune profiling of NK activation, immune suppression markers and viral replication kinetics.
- A research client exploring latency-targeting oHSV approaches in HHV-6A/6B infected cell-line models uses our functional immune–phenotyping panel to assess cytokine activation, immune checkpoint expression, and synergy with a latency reversing agent.
Why Immune Profiling & Combination Evaluation Matters
- Oncolytic virus strategies harness both direct cytolysis and host anti-virus/anti-tumour immunity; immune profiling reveals whether the latter mechanism is engaged.
- Combination therapies (e.g., oncolytic virus + checkpoint inhibitor) are increasingly required to overcome immune resistance, and rational combination design demands mechanistic read-outs (immune cell infiltration, cytokine landscape, checkpoint modulation).
- In HHV-associated malignancies and latent virus reservoirs, immune-evasion is often pronounced (e.g., viral antigen down-regulation, immunosuppressive micro-environment), so profiling of immune responses is even more critical.
- From a translational-readiness viewpoint, high-quality immune data supports discussions with partners, investors and regulatory agencies by providing mechanistic justification and biomarker hypotheses.
Deliverables & Timeline
- Deliverables: Experimental protocol summary, raw data files (flow cytometry FCS, cytokine multiplex XLS), analytical report with charts/tables, executive summary, next-step recommendations, optional intellectual-property friendly summary for BD use.
- Timeline: Typical studies (in vitro + small in vivo) require 8–12 weeks from assay design to final report; larger in vivo combination studies may require up to 16–20 weeks depending on client study design.
- Data Governance & Confidentiality: All client data is handled under a defined confidentiality agreement; we can accommodate project-specific NDA and MTAs.
- Costing: As a high-value, specialist service, pricing is premium and aligned with the scope of immune-panel complexity and in vivo model design; as always, we tailor a quote per-project.
References
- Menotti L, et al. Herpes Simplex Virus Oncolytic Immunovirotherapy. Int J Mol Sci. 2020;21(21):8310.
- Sugawara K, et al. Oncolytic herpes simplex virus G47Δ works synergistically with immune-checkpoint inhibitors. Mol Ther.–Oncolytics. 2021;22:123-132.
- Wang Y, et al. The combination therapy of oncolytic virotherapy: a review of major modalities. Front Pharmacol. 2024;15:1380313.
- Fu R, et al. Combination therapy with oncolytic virus and T cells or mRNA vaccines: mechanisms and prospects. Signal Transduct Target Ther. 2024;9(1):18.
- Ottolino-Perry K, et al. Combination Therapy With Oncolytic Viruses. Cancer Biol Ther. 2010;11(4):489-495.