CALGARY, April 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (“Oncolytics”) announced today that Prof. Alan Melcher and his research group at St. James’s University Hospital in Leeds, U.K. published the results of their work with reovirus in the May 1, 2008 online issue of The Journal of Immunology. The paper is entitled “Reovirus Activates Human Dendritic Cells to Promote Innate Antitumor Immunity.”
The researchers studied the ability of reovirus to activate human dendritic cells (DC), key regulators of both innate and adaptive immune responses. The data demonstrated that reovirus directly activates human DC, which in turn stimulate innate killing of cancer cells by natural killer (NK) and T cells, suggesting a novel potential role for T cells in oncolytic virus-induced local tumor cell death. Combined with the virus’s ability to directly kill cancer cells, the researchers concluded that reovirus recognition by DC may enhance the efficacy of reovirus as a therapeutic agent.
“This research provides additional insight into how reovirus interacts with the immune system, and expands our understanding of its multiple roles in the killing of cancer cells,” 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(R), 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 published in “The Journal of Immunology” with respect to REOLYSIN(R), the Company’s expectations related to the results of trials investigating delivery of REOLYSIN(R), and the Company’s belief as to the potential of REOLYSIN(R) 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(R) as a cancer treatment, the success and timely completion of clinical studies and trials, the Company’s ability to successfully commercialize REOLYSIN(R), 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.
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; The Equicom Group, Nick Hurst, 325, 300 5th Ave.
SW, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 3C4, Tel: (403) 538-4845, Fax: (403) 237-6916,
nhurst@equicomgroup.com; The Investor Relations Group, Erika Moran, 11
Stone St, 3rd Floor, New York, NY, 10004, Tel: (212) 825-3210, Fax: (212)
825-3229, emoran@investorrelationsgroup.com
