Viracta Therapeutics

Viracta Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on cancer. Viracta's main clinical program targets cancers associated with the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), including lymphoma, gastric cancer, and head and neck cancer. To target EBV, Viracta has developed a platform called "Viral Activation Therapy" – which uses an investigational epigenetic modulator, VRx-3996, to induce viral gene expression and activate thymidine kinase from the herpesvirus family. This interacts with oral antiviral prodrugs like valganciclovir, activating these drugs and selectively killing cancer cells harboring EBV.