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 Cr. N.W.
Calgary, Alberta
Canada T2N 1X7
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oncolytics Biotech Inc. Collaborators to Present Preclinical Combination
REOLYSIN® and Cisplatin Research at EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium
CALGARY, AB, — October 22, 2008 — Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (TSX: ONC, NASDAQ: ONCY) announced today that a poster presentation authored by Prof. Hardev Pandha of The Royal Surrey
Hospital, U.K., entitled “Synergistic Anti-Tumour Activity of Oncolytic Reovirus and Cisplatin in a
B16.F10 Mouse Melanoma Model” is scheduled to be presented October 23, 2008 at the 20th
EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics. The conference is being
held in Geneva, Switzerland, from October 21-24, 2008.
In the study, the researchers examined the in vitro and in vivo oncolytic activity of reovirus in
combination with cisplatin against a mouse melanoma cell line. The researchers demonstrated that
the combined therapy results in significantly increased cell death in vitro compared to either
agent alone. In the mouse model, combined therapy suppressed tumour growth and significantly
prolonged median survival time. The researchers concluded that the addition of chemotherapeutic
agents can significantly enhance the anti-tumour efficacy of reovirus therapy and justify formal
clinical evaluation.
This research supports the ongoing U.K. clinical trial examining the combination of
REOLYSIN® with carboplatin and paclitaxel (REO 011) in patients with advanced cancers.
An abstract covering interim results of the trial is expected to be available tomorrow in the
Journal of Immunotherapy, the official journal of the International Society for Biological Therapy
of Cancer (iSBTc). A poster presentation which will include current results from the trial is
scheduled to be presented at the iSBTc conference in San Diego, CA on November 1, 2008.
The poster will be available today on the Oncolytics website at www.oncolyticsbiotech.com
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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