Replimune's Tudriqev Sparks Hope for Localized Cancer Treatments

Replimune's approval of Tudriqev, an oncolytic virus for melanoma, has sparked excitement about the potential of localized cancer treatments. This therapy is delivered directly into the tumor and could redefine early-stage treatment.

The success of Replimune's Tudriqev follows in the footsteps of Amgen's Imlygic (T-Vec), an oncolytic virus that was approved by the FDA in 2015 for unresectable melanoma lesions. However, sales have been modest, with Imlygic bringing in unreported amounts in 2025.

Experts are predicting that treatments like Tudriqev could generate $1.3 billion annually in 2035, according to BMO Capital Markets estimates. This class of therapies has the potential to change the nature of early-stage treatment by delivering drugs directly into tumors.