Definition

A recombinant oncolytic herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), with potential oncolytic and antineoplastic activities. Upon intratumoral administration, oncolytic HSV-1 JNJ-87704916 preferentially infects and replicates in tumor cells causing viral-mediated tumor cell lysis. The released virus particles, in turn, infect and replicate in neighboring tumor cells. Tumor antigens released from the lysed tumor cells also activate the immune system to induce a tumor-specific systemic immune and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response, thereby killing nearby non-infected tumor cells.