CALGARY, Sept. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (“Oncolytics”) announced today that Dr. Robin Prestwich of CR-UK Clinical Centre, Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Leeds, U.K. is scheduled to deliver a poster presentation on Tuesday, October 2, 2007 at the NCRI Cancer Conference entitled “Reovirus Infection of Human Melanoma Cells Supports Priming of Anti-Tumour Cytotoxic T Cell Immunity.” The conference runs from September 30 through October 3, 2007 in Birmingham, U.K.
In this study, the investigators infected melanoma cell lines with reovirus. The reovirus-infected cell lines stimulated the maturation of dendritic cells, which in turn educated cancer-killing T cells to attack and kill the melanoma cells.
“Despite widespread interest in the anti-tumour effects of oncolytic viruses, little attention has been focused upon their potential to generate anti-tumour immunity,” said Professor Alan Melcher of St. James’s University Hospital in Leeds, U.K. and a co-investigator of this preclinical study. “This work has demonstrated for the first time the stimulatory effect of reovirus-infected melanoma cells on dendritic cells and their superiority over uninfected cells as an antigen source for bystander priming of anti-tumour immunity.”
The research will be posted on the Oncolytics website at www.oncolyticsbiotech.com as soon as it is available.
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 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 presented at this conference 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.
Oncolytics Biotech Inc.
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, 11Stone St, 3rd Floor, New York, NY, 10004, Tel: (212) 825-3210, Fax: (212)825-3229, emoran@investorrelationsgroup.com
