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 March 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 Cr. N.W
Calgary, Alberta
Canada T2N 1X7 |
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oncolytics
Biotech Inc. Collaborators to Present
Reovirus Research at AACR Annual Meeting
CALGARY,
AB, — March 13, 2008— Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (TSX: ONC, NASDAQ: ONCY)
announced that two abstracts covering preclinical work with reovirus are available today on the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) website
at www.aacr.org, and on the Oncolytics website at
www.oncolyticsbiotech.com. Both presentations are scheduled to be delivered at the AACR Annual Meeting in San Diego,
California April 12-16, 2008.
The first
abstract, entitled “Targeting Multiple Myeloma with Oncolytic
Viral Therapy” covers preclinical
work using reovirus as a purging agent during autologous (harvested from the patient themselves) hematopoietic stem cell transplants for multiple myeloma.
The results demonstrated that up to 70% of multiple myeloma cell lines tested showed reovirus sensitivity and reovirus induced cell death mediated through apoptosis.
An oral presentation is scheduled to be delivered by Dr. Chandini Thirukkumaran of the Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Calgary, AB on Tuesday, April 15, 2008.
The second abstract, entitled “Radiation in Combination with Reolysin for Pediatric Sarcomas” covers preclinical work using reovirus in combination
with radiation in mice implanted with pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma tumours. The results demonstrated that the combination of reovirus and radiation
significantly enhanced efficacy compared to either treatment alone in terms of tumour regression and event free survival. A poster presentation is scheduled to be
delivered by Dr. Pooja Gidwani of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York on Tuesday, April 15, 2008.
“This exciting work highlights the potential of expanding the use of the reovirus to include being
used as a purging agent during autologous blood stem cell
transplants, as well as a treatment for childhood sarcomas,” said Dr, Matt Coffey, Chief Scientific Officer of Oncolytics.
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 abstract and materials presented on the AACR website and 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:
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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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