CALGARY, April 11, 2014 /CNW/ - Oncolytics Biotech
Inc. ("Oncolytics") (TSX:ONC) (NASDAQ:ONCY) today announced that
Dr. Alan Melcher, Professor of
Clinical Oncology and Biotherapy at the University of Leeds, presented at the 8th Annual
International Conference on Oncolytic Virus Therapeutics held in
Oxford, UK. Dr. Melcher's
presentation, titled "Clinical Virotherapy and Immune Modulation;
Bench to Bedside and Back Again," covered early clinical research
showing that intravenously delivered REOLYSIN® can cross
the blood brain barrier to access tumours in the brains of humans
and preclinical research examining the synergies associated with
treatment in animal models with GM-CSF prior to administering
REOLYSIN®.
"We are very encouraged by our recent data on the potential
benefits of reovirus for patients with cancer," said Dr.
Melcher. "We have now shown that intravenous reovirus can
access tumours in the brain as well as the liver in patients, and
combining the virus with granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating
factor enhances therapy in a range of pre-clinical cancer
models. This 'bench to bedside and back again' research is
essential to inform how best to develop reovirus as an effective,
safe anti-cancer treatment."
Dr. Melcher also outlined two planned clinical studies.
The first is a biological endpoint study examining the use of
REOLYSIN® with or without GM-CSF in patients with
advanced melanoma prior to resection. The second is a trial
of REOLYSIN® and GM-CSF in combination with
chemoradiation following surgery for high grade gliomas.
"The possibility of treating patients with REOLYSIN®
in combination with a non-chemotherapeutic is of great interest,"
said Dr. Brad Thompson, President
and CEO of Oncolytics. "Early clinical data suggesting that
intravenously delivered REOLYSIN® can cross the blood
brain barrier and infect tumours opens up the possibility of
treating a large patient group with unmet needs, specifically those
with brain metastases associated with a number of cancer
types."
Dr. Melcher's presentation will be available on the Oncolytics
website at
http://www.oncolyticsbiotech.com/for-investors/presentations.
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 27A of the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements, including the
Company's expectations related to the clinical work done examining
REOLYSIN crossing the blood brain barrier and the preclinical work
assessing the combination of REOLYSIN with GM-CSF, future trials in
these areas, and the Company's belief as to the potential of
REOLYSIN 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 as a cancer
treatment, the tolerability of REOLYSIN outside a controlled test,
the success and timely completion of clinical studies and trials,
the Company's ability to successfully commercialize REOLYSIN,
uncertainties related to the research, development and
manufacturing of pharmaceuticals, changes in technology, general
changes to the economic environment 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 should
consider statements that include the words "believes", "expects",
"anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "plans", "projects",
"should", or other expressions that are predictions of or indicate
future events or trends, to be uncertain and forward-looking.
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.