Pea Plant Virus Creates a Powerful Immune Attack on Cancer—A Cheap Treatment Headed for Clinical Trials

[Ghoti Ichthus]

Pea Plant Virus Creates a Powerful Immune Attack on Cancer—A Cheap Treatment Headed for Clinical Trials​

By Good News Network
Aug 24, 2025

"A virus that infects the humble black-eyed pea plant is showing great promise as a low-cost, potent cancer immunotherapy—thanks to researchers at the University of California San Diego.
The team led by chemical and nano engineers just published their study in Cell Biomaterials, showing how the cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV), unlike other plant viruses, is uniquely effective at activating the body’s immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells.
In preclinical studies, CPMV has demonstrated potent anti-tumor effects in multiple mouse models, as well as in canine cancer patients. When injected directly into tumors, CPMV therapy recruits innate immune cells—such as neutrophils, macrophages and natural killer cells—into the tumor microenvironment to destroy cancer cells.
Meanwhile, it activates B cells and T cells to establish systemic, long-lasting anti-tumor memory—an immune “reawakening” that not only helps clear the targeted tumor but also primes the immune system to hunt down metastatic tumors elsewhere in the body."

"It also offers a unique advantage as a cost-effective immunotherapy. Unlike many other therapies that require complex and costly manufacturing, CPMV can be produced using molecular farming. “It can be grown in plants using sunlight, soil and water,” Omole said."

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Pea Plant Virus Creates a Powerful Immune Attack on Cancer—A Cheap Treatment Headed for Clinical Trials

A virus that infects black-eyed peas is showing great promise as a low-cost, potent cancer immunotherapy, say researchers at UC San Diego.

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