Herpes-Based cancer therapy under safety watch: no major spread found

NCT ID NCT02910557

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study followed 187 melanoma patients treated with IMLYGIC, a modified herpes virus that attacks cancer cells. Researchers tracked whether the virus spread to patients' close contacts or healthcare providers, and monitored long-term safety for up to 5 years. The goal was to understand real-world risks of herpetic infection from this therapy.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

Talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC), a modified herpes virus therapy

What this could lead to

If successful, this study could confirm that IMLYGIC is safe for patients and does not easily spread to others, supporting its continued use in melanoma treatment.

What could go wrong

This is an observational study, not a test of effectiveness. It only tracks safety in a small group (187 patients) and cannot prove the therapy works better than other options.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Herpesviridae infectious disease melanoma

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Allegheny Health Network

    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15224, United States

  • Cheltenham General Hospital

    Cheltenham, GL53 7AN, United Kingdom

  • Churchill Hospital

    Oxford, OX3 7LJ, United Kingdom

  • Corazon United States of America, LLC doing business as Life Clinical Trials

    Coral Springs, Florida, 33076, United States

  • Guys Hospital

    London, SE1 9RT, United Kingdom

  • Intermountain Medical Center

    Murray, Utah, 84107, United States

  • Jefferson City Medical Group PC

    Jefferson City, Missouri, 65109, United States

  • Kantonsspital Graubuenden

    Chur, 7000, Switzerland

  • Landeskrankenhaus Salzburg

    Salzburg, 5020, Austria

  • Medizinische Universitaet Graz

    Graz, 8036, Austria

  • Mercy Medical Center

    Baltimore, Maryland, 21202, United States

  • Musgrove Park Hospital

    Taunton, TA1 5DA, United Kingdom

  • Ordensklinikum Linz Elisabethinen

    Linz, 4020, Austria

  • Rambam Medical Center

    Haifa, 3109601, Israel

  • Royal Marsden Hospital

    London, SW3 6JJ, United Kingdom

  • Sheba Medical Center

    Ramat Gan, 5262000, Israel

  • TriHealth Cancer Institute - Kenwood

    Cincinnati, Ohio, 45242, United States

  • Universitaetsklinikum Sankt Poelten

    Sankt Pölten, 3100, Austria

  • Universitaetsspital Basel

    Basel, 4052, Switzerland

  • Universitaetsspital Zuerich

    Zuerich Flughafen, 8058, Switzerland

  • University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213, United States

  • University of Tennessee Medical Center

    Knoxville, Tennessee, 37920, United States

  • University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics

    Madison, Wisconsin, 53792, United States