On October 14, 2025, Knowledge Ecology International (KEI) provided the NIH with comments regarding the “Prospective Grant of Exclusive License, Inter-Institutional Agreement-Institution Lead: Development of Zika Virus Strains for Use in Oncolytic Therapy” (90 FR 46414) to Advocate Aurora Research Institute.
As stated in our comments,
“The technology to be licensed describes the use of Zika virus strains as an oncolytic virus for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and other cancers. The notice also highlights that GBM is an “aggressive, malignant brain cancer with poor prognosis under the current standard of care.” The NIH must ensure that if a successful treatment arises from this technology, that patients in the US and globally are actually able to access the treatment, and are not blocked by barriers arising from exclusivities and high prices.”
KEI’s full comments are available here: KEI-Comments-NIH-License-AARI-14Oct2025