CALGARY, AB, --- January 24, 2006 - Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (“Oncolytics”) (TSX:ONC, NASDAQ:ONCY) announced today that an oral presentation covering preliminary results of its Phase I combination REOLYSIN®/radiation clinical trial will be made at the American Association of Cancer Researchers (AACR) annual meeting, to be held April 1-5 in Washington, D.C. The presentation, entitled “Phase I trial of intratumoral administration of reovirus type 3 (Reolysin) in combination with radiation in patients with advanced malignancies” will be delivered by Principal Investigator Dr. Kevin J. Harrington of the Targeted Therapy Laboratory, The Institute of Cancer Research, Cancer Research UK Centre for Cell and Molecular Biology and Honorary Consultant in Clinical Oncology at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
About Oncolytics Biotech Inc.
Oncolytics is a Calgary-based biotechnology company focused on the development of REOLYSIN®, its proprietary formulation of the human reovirus, as a potential cancer therapeutic. Oncolytics’ researchers have demonstrated that the reovirus is able to selectively kill cancer cells and, in vitro, kill human cancer cells that are derived from many types of cancer including breast, bladder, prostate, pancreatic and brain tumours, and have also demonstrated successful cancer treatment results in a number of animal models. Phase I clinical trial results have indicated that REOLYSIN® was well tolerated and that the reovirus demonstrated activity in tumours injected with REOLYSIN®.
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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Oncolytics Biotech Inc. Cathy Ward 210, 1167 Kensington Cr NW Calgary, Alberta T2N 1X7 Tel: 403.670.7377 Fax: 403.283.0858 cathy.ward@oncolytics.ca www.oncolyticsbiotech.com
The Equicom Group Nick Hurst 20 Toronto Street Toronto, Ontario M5C 2B8 Tel: 416.815.0700 ext.226 Fax: 416.815.0080 nhurst@equicomgroup.com
The Investor Relations Group John Nesbett or Damian McIntosh 11 Stone St, 3rd Floor New York, NY 10004 Tel: 212.825.3210 Fax: 212.825.3229 dmcintosh@investorrelationsgroup.com
RenMark Financial Communications John Boidman 2080 Rene Levesque Blvd. W. Montreal, PQ H3H 1R6 Tel: 514.939.3989 Fax: 514.939.3717 jboidman@renmarkfinancial.com -30-
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