CALGARY, AB, --- April 4, 2006 - Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (“Oncolytics”) (TSX:ONC, NASDAQ:ONCY) announced that a poster by Dr. E. Anders Kolb of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, entitled “Reolysin®, an unmodified Reovirus, has significant anti-tumor activity in childhood sarcomas” will be presented today at the 97th American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. The research abstract and poster are available on the Oncolytics website at www.oncolyticsbiotech.com.
The investigators tested reovirus against various pediatric sarcoma cell lines in vitro and in vivo. In all tumor lines evaluated, the reovirus exhibited significant antitumor activity. The investigators concluded that REOLYSIN® demonstrates excellent anti-tumor activity in vitro and in vivo in childhood sarcoma cell lines, and that these promising results suggest that a clinical trial of systemic reovirus in pediatric solid tumors is warranted.
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 I/II human trials using REOLYSIN®, its proprietary formulation of the human reovirus, alone and in combination with radiation. 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 conference 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 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.
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.22
Fax: 416.815.0080
nhurst@equicomgroup.com
The Investor Relations Group
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-
|
