OCTAVE - Ovarian Cancer Trial with an Enhanced Group B Oncolytic Adenovirus

A genetically engineered virus is being injected directly into the abdominal cavity of women with recurrent, chemotherapy-resistant ovarian cancer to see if it can shrink their tumours. This early-stage clinical trial (phase I/IIa) addresses a critical gap: women with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer have very few treatment options left, and standard chemotherapy often stops working. The virus, ColoAd1, is designed to selectively infect and destroy cancer cells while leaving healthy tissue alone. It is being tested both alone and alongside chemotherapy. If the virus proves safe and shows signs of efficacy, it could offer a new treatment pathway for a patient group with extremely limited options. Success would mean that a single intraperitoneal injection of a targeted virus could slow or stop disease progression, potentially extending survival and delaying the need for more toxic therapies. This is not a cure, but a potential new tool for managing a lethal disease where current options are scarce.