CALGARY, Oct. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ – Oncolytics Biotech Inc.
(“Oncolytics”) (TSX:ONC, NASDAQ:ONCY) today announced that a poster
presentation covering interim results from a U.K. Phase Ia/Ib combination
REOLYSIN(R)/radiation clinical trial for patients with advanced or metastatic
cancers is scheduled to be presented today at the AACR-NCI-EORTC International
Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics in San Francisco. The
conference runs from October 22-26, 2007.
“We are very encouraged with the results of this trial to date,” said Dr.
Brad Thompson, President and CEO of Oncolytics. “The data is supportive of our
ongoing Phase II REOLYSIN(R)/radiation cotherapy trial in the U.K.”
The interim results of the Ia/Ib trial demonstrate that intratumoural
treatment with REOLYSIN(R) and radiation is well tolerated and results in both
local and remote anti-tumour activity in patients with a variety of advanced
cancers. Oncolytics continues to enroll patients in the Ib portion of this
trial, and is also actively enrolling patients in a Phase II trial examining
this treatment combination.
The presentation, entitled “A Phase I study to evaluate the feasibility,
safety and biological effects of intratumoural administration of wild-type
Reovirus (REOLYSIN(R)) in combination with radiation in patients with advanced
malignancies” will be delivered by Dr. Dean Harris of The Institute of Cancer
Research, London.
These interim results were also presented in early October at the National
Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Cancer Conference in Birmingham, U.K.
The poster presentation will be posted on the Oncolytics website today at
www.oncolyticsbiotech.com.
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 Phase I and Phase II human trials using
REOLYSIN(R), its proprietary formulation of the human reovirus, alone and in
combination with radiation or chemotherapy. For further information about
Oncolytics, please visit www.oncolyticsbiotech.com.
About The Institute of Cancer Research
The Institute of Cancer Research is Europe’s leading cancer research
centre with expert scientists working on cutting edge research. It was founded
in 1909 to carry out research into the causes of cancer and to develop new
strategies for its prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care. Website at:
www.icr.ac.uk.
The Institute works in a unique partnership with The Royal Marsden NHS
Foundation Trust, forming the largest comprehensive cancer centre in Europe.
This relationship enables close daily contact between research scientists and
those on the frontline in the fight against cancer – the clinicians, the
carers and most importantly, the patients.
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 expectations related to
the Phase Ia/Ib U.K. combination REOLYSIN(R) and radiation clinical trial, and
the Company’s belief as to the potential of REOLYSIN(R) as a cancer
therapeutic, 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(R) as a cancer treatment, the
success and timely completion of clinical studies and trials, the Company’s
ability to successfully commercialize REOLYSIN(R), uncertainties related to
the research and development of pharmaceuticals and uncertainties related to
the regulatory process. 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.
SOURCE Oncolytics Biotech Inc.
Released October 24, 2007