Oncolytics Biotech® Inc. Announces 2013 Year End Results

CALGARY, March 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ – Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (TSX:ONC,
NASDAQ:ONCY) (“Oncolytics” or the “Company”) today announced its
financial results and operational highlights for the year ended
December 31, 2014.

“In 2013, we reported data from a number of clinical studies, which
included our first data correlating specific biomarkers with survival
in NSCLC lung cancer patients and culminated with the reporting of our
first randomized data in head and neck cancer,” said Dr. Brad Thompson,
President and CEO of Oncolytics. “Our randomized clinical program
continues to move ahead with six sponsored studies currently enrolling
patients in a range of indications. Each of these studies will advance
in parallel with our ongoing head and neck program which we are
currently in the process of designing a follow-on registration study
for discussion with regulators.”

Selected Highlights

Since January 1, 2013, specific highlights announced by the Company
include:

Clinical Trial Results

  • Top-line data for the endpoints in a double blinded, randomized clinical
    study examining REOLYSIN® in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel in patients with
    second-line platinum-refractory, taxane-naïve head and neck cancers
    (REO 018). An analysis was performed on an intent-to-treat basis of 118 patients
    with loco-regional head and neck cancer, with or without metastases.
    Patients in the control arm were treated with carboplatin and
    paclitaxel, while patients in the test arm were treated with
    carboplatin, paclitaxel and REOLYSIN. The analysis showed a median
    progression free survival (PFS) of 94 days (13.4 weeks) in the test arm
    (n=62), versus 50 days (7.1 weeks) in the control arm (n=56). The test
    arm maintained a PFS benefit over the control arm through five cycles
    of therapy. An analysis of 88 loco-regional patients that did not
    receive additional therapy following discontinuation of study treatment
    showed a median overall survival (OS) of 150 days (21.4 weeks) in the
    test arm (n=50), versus 115 days (16.4 weeks) in the control arm
    (n=38). REOLYSIN was deemed safe and well-tolerated by patients. The
    side effects experienced by patients in the test arm of the study were
    consistent with expectations based on outcomes of earlier clinical
    studies using REOLYSIN. Patients on the test arm of the study
    experienced a higher incidence of flu-like symptoms consistent with
    treatment with a virus, most commonly mild fever, chills, nausea and
    diarrhea, on both a per-patient and a per-cycle basis. Fewer patients
    required dose reductions of paclitaxel due to neuropathy or
    neurotoxicity on the test arm than the control arm (zero in the test
    arm versus six in the control arm; p=0.028). On this basis, the Company
    intends to explore the potential chemoprotective and neuroprotective
    properties of REOLYSIN in future clinical studies;
  • Positive final results from a U.S. Phase 2 study examining the use of
    REOLYSIN in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel in patients
    with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with Kras or EGFR-activated tumors (REO 016). Response evaluation for 36
    evaluable patients showed 11 partial responses (PR) (30%) (EGFR
    amplified, five; BRAF two; Kras, three; EGFR mutated, one), 21 stable disease (SD), and four
    progressive disease (PD). The data also correlated a number of
    molecular abnormalities with best response, PFS and one-year survival.
    Current data in these patients demonstrates that 20 of 36 evaluable
    patients (56%) survived a year or more. There were 13 patients with
    only EGFR mutations or amplifications, of whom nine (69.2%) survived a
    year or longer. Four of four (100%) patients with BRAF and EGFR
    amplification survived a year or longer;
  • Final tumor response and PFS data from a U.S. Phase 2 clinical trial in
    patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the lung (SCCLC) using
    intravenous administration of REOLYSIN in combination with carboplatin
    and paclitaxel (REO 021). Of the 25 evaluable patients who had more
    than one cycle of therapy, 23 (92%) exhibited overall tumor shrinkage.
    When evaluated for best response, which is the best percentage response
    recorded on study compared to baseline, 10 patients (40%) had PR, while
    a further 14 (56%) showed SD, and one (4%), had PD. Using RECIST
    criteria to evaluate best overall response, 10 patients (40%) had PRs,
    12 (48%) showed SD and three (12%), had PD.  31.8% of patients with
    sufficient follow up had a PFS greater than six months;
  • Reaching the stage 1 endpoint in a U.S. Phase 2 clinical trial in
    patients with metastatic melanoma (REO 020) after only 14 patients were
    enrolled.  The primary objective of this Phase 2 trial was to assess
    the antitumor effect of the treatment regimen in the study population
    in terms of objective response rates. The secondary objectives were to
    assess progression-free survival and overall survival for the treatment
    regimen; the disease control rate (complete response (CR) plus PR plus
    SD) and duration, and to assess the safety and tolerability of the
    treatment regimen in the study population.  Three of the 14 patients
    exhibited a PR, and an additional seven patients had SD for a disease
    control rate of 71.5%; and
  • Positive preliminary results from a Phase 1 study examining the
    intravenous administration of REOLYSIN in combination with FOLFIRI in
    patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (REO 022) in a poster
    presentation at the ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium. Of the 18
    patients evaluable for response there was one PR and nine had SD. The
    combined overall PFS of FOLFIRI-naïve and FOLFIRI-failed patients was
    7.4 months. The authors concluded that the combination of REOLYSIN and
    FOLFIRI was safe and well tolerated and resulted in disease control in
    the majority of evaluable patients, including patients that had
    previously progressed on Irinotecan.

Financial

  • At December 31, 2013 the Company reported $27.2 million in cash, cash
    equivalents and short-term investments; and
  • Subsequent to year end, entry into a share purchase agreement with
    Lincoln Park Capital Fund, LLC that will provide an initial investment
    in Oncolytics of US$1.0 million and make available additional periodic
    investments of up to US$25.0 million over a 30-month term.

ONCOLYTICS BIOTECH INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION
 
as at     December 31,
2013
$
    December 31,
2012
$
Assets            
Current assets            
Cash and cash equivalents     25,220,328     19,323,541
Short-term investments     2,001,644     1,969,228
Accounts receivable     105,853     44,979
Prepaid expenses     361,743     331,094
Total current assets     27,689,568     21,668,842
             
Non-current assets            
Property and equipment     532,459     409,248
Total non-current assets     532,459     409,248
             
Total assets     28,222,027     22,078,090
             
Liabilities And Shareholders’ Equity            
Current Liabilities            
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities     6,008,661     7,291,310
Total current liabilities     6,008,661     7,291,310
             
Shareholders’ equity              
             
Share capital   

           
  Authorized: unlimited            
  Issued:  December 31, 2013 – 84,803,818            
  December 31, 2012 – 76,710,285     228,612,564     198,155,091
Warrants     376,892     376,892
Contributed surplus     24,491,212     24,126,265
Accumulated other comprehensive loss     79,698     (57,115)
Accumulated deficit     (231,347,000)     (207,814,353)
Total shareholders’ equity     22,213,366     14,786,780
Total liabilities and equity     28,222,027     22,078,090

 
ONCOLYTICS BIOTECH INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF LOSS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
 
For the years ending December 31,     2013
$
    2012
$
    2011
$
                   
Expenses                  
Research and development     18,506,064     31,402,625     23,386,685
Operating     5,392,660     5,285,425     5,334,582
Loss before the following     (23,898,724)     (36,688,050)     (28,721,267)
Write down of asset available for sale             (735,681)
Change in fair value of warrant liability             36,000
Interest     371,485     345,003     416,247
Loss before income taxes     (23,527,239)     (36,343,047)     (29,004,701)
Income tax expense     (5,408)     (30,474)     (40,000)
Net loss     (23,532,647)     (36,373,521)     (29,044,701)
Other comprehensive income items that may
be reclassified to net loss
                 
                       
  Translation adjustment     136,813     60,386     39,159
                   
Net comprehensive loss     (23,395,834)     (36,313,135)     (29,005,542)
Basic and diluted loss per common share     (0.28)     (0.48)     (0.41)
                   
Weighted average number of shares (basic and diluted)     83,530,981     76,102,062     70,911,526

 
ONCOLYTICS BIOTECH INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
 
      Share Capital
$
  Warrants
$
  Contributed
Surplus
$
  Accumulated Other
Comprehensive
Income
$
  Accumulated
Deficit
$
  Total
$
As at December 31, 2010     155,439,610   4,108,652   19,399,489   (156,660)   (142,396,131)   36,394,960
                           
Net loss and comprehensive income           39,159   (29,044,701)   (29,005,542)
Exercise of warrants     21,487,080   (1,455,025)         20,032,055
Exercise of stock options     355,876     (62,473)       293,403
Share based compensation         1,805,503       1,805,503
As at December 31, 2011     177,282,566   2,653,627   21,142,519   (117,501)   (171,440,832)   29,520,379
                           
Net loss and comprehensive income           60,386   (36,373,521)   (36,313,135)
Issued, pursuant to a bought deal financing     19,386,903   376,892         19,763,795
Expiry of warrants       (2,653,627)   2,653,627      
Exercise of stock options     1,485,622     (400,632)       1,084,990
Share based compensation         730,751       730,751
As at December 31, 2012     198,155,091   376,892   24,126,265   (57,115)   (207,814,353)   14,786,780
                           
Net loss and comprehensive income           136,813   (23,532,647)   (23,395,834)
Issued, pursuant to a bought deal financing     30,218,796           30,218,796
Expiry of warrants              
Exercise of stock options     238,677     (59,437)       179,240
Share based compensation         424,384       424,384
As at December 31, 2013     228,612,564   376,892   24,491,212   79,698   (231,347,000)   22,213,366

  

 
ONCOLYTICS BIOTECH INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
For the years ending December 31,     2013
$
    2012
$
    2011
$
                   
Operating Activities                  
Net loss for the year     (23,532,647)     (36,373,521)     (29,044,701)
  Amortization – property and equipment     131,623     109,275     92,590
  Share based compensation     424,384     730,751     1,805,503
  Change in fair value of warrant liability             (36,000)
  Write down of asset available for sale             735,681
  Unrealized foreign exchange loss     (89,721)     89,890     115,234
Net change in non-cash working capital     (1,374,172)     1,187,967     3,790,510
Cash used in operating activities     (24,440,533)     (34,255,638)     (22,541,183)
                     
Investing Activities                        
Acquisition of property and equipment     (254,834)     (126,412)     (257,790)
Redemption (purchase) of short-term investments     (32,416)     (32,441)     1,672,459
Cash provided by (used in) investing activities     (287,250)     (158,853)     1,414,669
                   
Financing Activities                        
Proceeds from exercise of stock options and warrants     179,240     1,084,990     14,824,658
Proceeds from public offering     30,218,796     19,763,795    
Cash provided by financing activities     30,398,036     20,848,785     14,824,658
Increase (decrease) in cash     5,670,253     (13,565,706)     (6,301,856)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year     19,323,541     32,918,751     39,296,682
Impact of foreign exchange on cash and cash equivalents     226,534     (29,504)     (76,075)
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year     25,220,328     19,323,541     32,918,751

To view the Company’s Fiscal 2013 Consolidated Financial Statements,
related Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, and Management’s
Discussion and Analysis, please see the Company’s annual filings which
will be available on www.sedar.com and on www.oncolyticsbiotech.com/for-investors/financials.

About Oncolytics Biotech Inc.
Oncolytics is a Calgary-based biotechnology company focused on the
development of oncolytic viruses as potential cancer therapeutics.
Oncolytics’ clinical program includes a variety of human trials
including a Phase III trial in head and neck cancers using REOLYSIN,
its proprietary formulation of the human reovirus. For further
information about Oncolytics, please visit: www.oncolyticsbiotech.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements, within the
meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended. Forward-looking statements, including the Company’s belief as
to the potential of REOLYSIN as a cancer therapeutic; the Company’s
expectations as to the success of its research and development programs
in 2014 and beyond, the Company’s planned operations, the value of the
additional patents and intellectual property; the Company’s
expectations related to the applications of the patented technology;
the Company’s expectations as to adequacy of its existing capital
resources; the design, timing, success of planned clinical trial
programs; and other statements related to anticipated developments in
the Company’s business and technologies involve known and unknown risks
and uncertainties, which could cause the Company’s actual results to
differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such
risks and uncertainties include, among others, the availability of
funds and resources to pursue research and development projects, the
efficacy of REOLYSIN as a cancer treatment, the success and timely
completion of clinical studies and trials, the Company’s ability to
successfully commercialize REOLYSIN, uncertainties related to the
research and development of pharmaceuticals, uncertainties related to
the regulatory process and general changes to the economic environment.
Investors should consult the Company’s quarterly and annual filings
with the Canadian and U.S. securities commissions for additional
information on risks and uncertainties relating to the forward-looking
statements. Investors are cautioned against placing undue reliance on
forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update
these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable
laws.

SOURCE Oncolytics Biotech Inc.