ViroMissile Taps Biotech Veteran to Guide Systemic Cancer-Killing Virus

SAN DIEGO, CA – January 15, 2026 – ViroMissile, Inc., a clinical-stage immunotherapy company, has appointed veteran biotech executive Michael G. Wood as its Chief Business Officer, a strategic move signaling its intent to accelerate the development of its novel cancer-killing virus platform. The appointment comes just one month after ViroMissile initiated first-in-human trials for its lead candidate, positioning the company at a critical inflection point where scientific promise must now be paired with robust corporate strategy and capital.

A Track Record of Building and Funding Innovation

Mr. Wood joins ViroMissile with a formidable three-decade resume that reads like a blueprint for building successful biotech ventures. His experience spans scientific research, big pharma, and investment banking, but it is his recent successes in the C-suite of emerging biotechs that have turned heads.

At OncoMyx Therapeutics, a company he co-founded, Wood served as both Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer. There, he was instrumental in building the company around an in-licensed oncolytic immunotherapy platform, raising a crucial $75 million across Series A and B financing rounds to propel its science forward. His tenure at Crinetics Pharmaceuticals tells a similar story. Joining shortly after its inception as Vice President of Corporate Development and Operations, he led the company’s $40 million Series A financing and helped lay the groundwork for a successful Initial Public Offering in 2018.

This history of translating early-stage science into well-capitalized, clinical-stage companies is precisely what ViroMissile needs as it navigates its next phase. “Michael has repeatedly demonstrated the ability to translate innovative science into well-structured, well-capitalized biotechnology companies,” said Nanhai George Chen, PhD, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of ViroMissile, in a statement. “His leadership across fundraising, building teams and business development significantly strengthens our management team as we execute on our mission.”

The Holy Grail of Oncolytic Virotherapy: Systemic Delivery

ViroMissile is operating at the cutting edge of oncology, developing a new class of drugs known as oncolytic viruses. These are viruses engineered to selectively hunt and destroy cancer cells while triggering a patient’s own immune system to join the fight. While the concept is powerful, its application has been largely limited by a fundamental challenge: delivery.

The only FDA-approved oncolytic virus, Amgen’s Imlygic, must be injected directly into tumors. This approach is impractical for patients with metastatic disease, where cancer has spread throughout the body, or for tumors that are surgically inaccessible. The true breakthrough for the field lies in creating a virus that can be delivered intravenously, travel through the bloodstream, and effectively target tumors wherever they may be.

This is the problem ViroMissile’s IDOV™ (Intravenously Deliverable Oncolytic Virus) platform is designed to solve. “ViroMissile’s differentiated IDOV™ platform successfully addresses one of the most fundamental limitations in oncolytic virotherapy—systemic delivery,” Wood stated upon his appointment. “I’m thrilled to join the company, lead business development initiatives that will drive the next phase of growth, and help ViroMissile establish our oncolytic virotherapy as the next pillar of cancer immunotherapy.”

The company’s lead candidate, IDOV-immune, recently entered a Phase 1 clinical trial, with the first patient dosed in Australia in December 2025. The trial will evaluate the safety and preliminary efficacy of the intravenously administered virus in patients with advanced solid tumors. This milestone moves ViroMissile from a preclinical concept to a clinical-stage company, making the recruitment of an experienced CBO like Wood a timely and critical step.

Carving a Niche in a Crowded Field

The oncolytic virus market is both promising and competitive, with projections estimating it could reach over $1.9 billion by 2032, growing at a compound annual rate of over 23%. While Amgen’s Imlygic established the proof-of-concept, a host of companies are now vying to create the next generation of therapies.

Competitors like Replimune Group and OncoMyx Therapeutics (Wood’s former company) are also developing systemically delivered viruses, utilizing different viral backbones and engineering strategies. Large pharmaceutical players like Merck & Co. have also entered the space through acquisitions. ViroMissile’s success will depend on its ability to demonstrate that its IDOV™ platform is not only safe but also more effective at reaching and destroying tumors systemically than its rivals.

The company's pipeline suggests a multi-pronged strategy to overcome the hurdles of systemic delivery. Beyond IDOV-immune, ViroMissile is developing platforms like IDOV-Stealth™, designed to evade immune system clearance, and IDOV-AntiAngio™, which aims to cut off a tumor's blood supply. This comprehensive approach, combined with the recent clinical progress, provides a compelling narrative for the new Chief Business Officer to leverage.

The Path to Market: Fusing Science with Strategy

With IDOV-immune now in human trials, ViroMissile faces the dual challenge of executing clinically while building a sustainable business. The appointment of Michael Wood is a clear signal that the company is squarely focused on the latter. His role will be to lead corporate strategy, secure the necessary capital to fund expensive later-stage trials, and forge strategic partnerships that can accelerate the path to commercialization.

Having raised a modest $550,000 in early seed and debt funding, the company is now poised for a significant push for growth capital. Wood’s experience in securing substantial venture rounds and navigating the path to public markets will be invaluable. His deep network in investment banking and the biopharmaceutical industry provides ViroMissile with immediate credibility and access.

As ViroMissile advances its pioneering platform, the combination of its recent clinical milestone and the addition of a seasoned business architect creates a potent formula. The company is betting that its scientific solution to the systemic delivery problem, guided by Wood’s strategic and financial acumen, will be the key to establishing its oncolytic virus as a new pillar of cancer immunotherapy for patients with the most difficult-to-treat cancers.