Instead of just killing cancer cells, the primary mechanism is to insert a gene that forces the infected cell to produce and secrete a potent drug, like an anti-PD-L1 antibody. This creates a hyper-concentrated therapeutic effect directly in the tumor microenvironment, a concept termed "molecular surgery."
Accession's second product is a bispecific antibody that binds to all cancer cells. While this would be dangerously toxic if delivered systemically, their targeted virus delivery system ensures it is only produced inside the tumor. This strategy makes previously "undruggable" therapeutic concepts viable.
To overcome the historical issue of oncolytic viruses being sequestered by the liver, Accession re-engineers a human virus so it cannot infect any human cells. Only after this safety step is it re-targeted to infect only cancer cells, ensuring precise delivery and avoiding systemic side effects.
By targeting the integrin Alpha V Beta 6, found in nearly 100% of patient samples for major carcinomas, Accession simplifies its clinical trials. For its first trial across six indications, the company can enroll "all comers" without the costly and time-consuming step of pre-screening patients for the target.