SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.
20549
Form 6-K
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of
October 2008
Commission File Number 000-31062
Oncolytics Biotech Inc.
(Translation of registrant’s name into
English)
Suite 210, 1167 Kensington Crescent NW
Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1X7
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as
permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): o
Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1) only permits the submission in paper of a
Form 6-K if submitted solely to provide an attached annual report to security
holders.
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as
permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): o
Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7) only permits the submission in paper of a
Form 6-K if submitted to furnish a report or other document that the registrant
foreign private issuer must furnish and make public under the laws of the
jurisdiction in which the registrant is incorporated, domiciled or legally
organized (the registrant’s “home country”), or under the rules of the home
country exchange on which the registrant’s securities are traded, as long as
the report or other document is not a press release, is not required to be and
has not been distributed to the registrant’s security holders, and, if
discussing a material event, has already been the subject of a Form 6-K
submission or other Commission filing on EDGAR.
Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in this
Form, the registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934.
If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant
in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82 -
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210, 1167 Kensington Crescent N.W.
Calgary, Alberta
Canada T2N 1X7 |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oncolytics Biotech Inc. Collaborators Present
Reovirus and Melanoma Research at EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium
CALGARY, AB, — October 23, 2008 — Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (TSX: ONC, NASDAQ: ONCY) announced today that
Dr. Shizuko Sei of SAIC-Frederick, Inc., delivered a poster presentation
entitled “In Vivo Efficacy and Replication Dynamics of Intravenously Administered Oncolytic
Reovirus in Nude Mice Bearing Human Melanoma Xenografts” at the 20th EORTC-NCI-AACR
Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics. SAIC-Frederick is the prime contractor to
the National Cancer Institute at Frederick (NCI-F) in the United States. The conference is being
held in Geneva, Switzerland, from October 21-24, 2008.
Mice bearing human melanoma tumours each received a single injection of reovirus at various dose
levels, administered intravenously. Dose-dependent tumor growth delay was observed in the treated
animals, with the effect most pronounced for the first seven days. Reovirus was demonstrated to be
in all biopsied tumors and the level consistently increased from day 2 through day 7 in all dose
groups.
The investigators concluded that a single IV administration of reovirus led to substantial tumor
growth delay in melanoma-bearing nude mice, and the extent of acute phase reovirus replication in
tumor tissues appeared to predict the subsequent tumor response. This proof-of-principle study
demonstrates that systemically administered reovirus can reach and replicate in distant tumor
tissues, resulting in virus-induced oncolysis.
The research supports the ongoing U.S. NCI-sponsored Phase 2 clinical trial that is examining
REOLYSIN® given as a single agent in patients with metastatic melanoma under a Clinical
Trials Agreement between Oncolytics and the Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, NCI.
The poster will be accessible on the Oncolytics website at www.oncolyticsbiotech.com as soon as it
is available.
The EORTC-NCI-AACR symposium is held on an annual basis and is jointly organized by the European
Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI)
and the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR).
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/II
and Phase II human trials using REOLYSIN®, 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.
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 implication
of the materials presented at this meeting with respect to REOLYSIN®, the Company’s
expectations related to the results of trials investigating delivery of REOLYSIN®, 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 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
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Oncolytics Biotech Inc.
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The Equicom Group
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The Investor Relations Group |
Cathy Ward
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Nick Hurst
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Erika Moran |
210, 1167 Kensington Cr NW
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325, 300 5th Ave. SW
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11 Stone St, 3rd Floor |
Calgary, Alberta T2N 1X7
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Calgary, Alberta T2P 3C4
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New York, NY 10004 |
Tel: 403.670.7377
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Tel: 403.538.4845
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Tel: 212.825.3210 |
Fax: 403.283.0858
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Fax: 403.237.6916
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Fax: 212.825.3229 |
cathy.ward@oncolytics.ca
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nhurst@equicomgroup.com
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emoran@investorrelationsgroup.com |
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