Full Press Release Details
Oncolytics Biotech Inc. Collaborators Present REOLYSIN and Checkpoint
Inhibitor Combination Preclinical Data at AACR Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Conference
CALGARY, Dec. 4, 2014 /CNW/ - Oncolytics Biotech Inc. ("Oncolytics")
(TSX:ONC) (NASDAQ:ONCY) today announced a poster presentation by the Company's research collaborators, Vile et al., titled "Combination
Therapy with Reovirus and PD-1 Blockade Effectively Establishes Tumour Control Via Innate and Adaptive Immune Responses" was
made at the AACR Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Conference being held from December 1st through 4th in
"The preclinical data presented by our collaborators
demonstrates that REOLYSIN increases the therapeutic activity of check point inhibitors," said Dr. Brad Thompson,
President and CEO of Oncolytics. "This finding is critical and supportive of the further investigation of REOLYSIN
in combination with this important new class of therapeutics."
REOLYSIN has been found to generate
both an anti-tumour response against reovirus-infected tumour cells and an immune reaction as those cells are killed. The collaborators'
research intended to exploit the immune components of reovirus therapy by testing REOLYSIN in combination with
systemic checkpoint inhibition (using anti-PD-1 antibodies), which increases the immune system's ability to recognize and attack
Testing of the combination was conducted in immune-competent
mouse models with established B16 melanomas. The investigators concluded that in this model, administering systemic anti-PD-1 antibody
with intra-tumoural reovirus significantly enhanced survival compared to intra-tumoural reovirus alone (p<0.01), with 40% of
the mice being cured long-term; that combination therapy of reovirus with PD-1 blockade delivers significant survival benefit by
augmenting tumour specific NK (natural killer) responses and specifically attenuating tumour specific immunosuppression; and, that
the combination of checkpoint inhibition therapy with reovirus oncolytic/immunotherapy represents a readily translatable method
to enhance the therapeutic value of either alone.
Two other abstracts examining the use of the reovirus,
titled "PDL-1 Blockade and Sunitinib Enhance the Efficiency of Oncolytic Viral Therapy" by Morris et al., and "Systemic
Oncolytic Reovirus for the Treatment of Primary and Secondary Brain Tumors" by Melcher et al., were submitted and presented
as posters. Copies of the abstracts and posters, when available, will be found 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 later-stage, randomized human trials in various indications 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 preclinical work with checkpoint
inhibitors, the translational study in brain cancer, future trials in these indications, 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.
For further information: TMX Equicom, Nick Hurst, 300 5th Ave. SW, 10th
Floor, Calgary, Alberta T2P 3C4, Tel: 403.218.2835, Fax: 403.218.2830, nhurst@tmxequicom.com; TMX Equicom, Michael Moore, San Diego,
CA, Tel: 858.886.7813, mmoore@tmxequicom.com; Dian Griesel, Inc., Susan Forman, 335 West 38th Street, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10018,
Tel: 212.825.3210, Fax: 212.825.3229, sforman@dgicomm.com
CO: Oncolytics Biotech Inc.
CNW 06:30e 04-DEC-14