CALGARY, May 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - Oncolytics
Biotech® Inc. ("Oncolytics" or the
"Company") (TSX: ONC) (OTCQX: ONCYF) (FRA: ONY) today
announced a poster presentation by researchers, covering
preclinical work in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck
("SCCHN"), is being made at the 2016 American Society of Gene and
Cell Therapy ("ASGCT") annual meeting being held from May 4th to 7th, 2016 in
Washington, DC.
"Preclinical work continues to play an important role in
REOLYSIN®'s further development," said Dr. Brad Thompson, President and CEO of Oncolytics.
"We are evaluating REOLYSIN® in combination with both
established and emerging treatment options in a range of
indications in order to determine which pairings merit clinical
testing."
The abstract/poster is titled "The Potency of a Histone
Deacetylase Inhibitor and REOLYSIN® in Head and Neck
Squamous Cell Carcinoma," and was authored by Old, et al. The
authors used the first FDA approved histone deacetylase inhibitor
("HDACi"), vorinostat (suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid) ("SAHA"),
in combination with REOLYSIN® in vitro and in
vivo. They had previously found a synergistic combination of
SAHA and REOLYSIN® in a nude mouse model. Preclinical
models using oncolytics are often conducted in immunocompromised
mice, negating the significant impact of the immune system. The
data demonstrates that combination of reovirus plus SAHA therapy
has significant activity in the treatment of SCCHN, even in an
immunocompetent model and that immune system rebound likely plays a
significant role in the long-term anti-tumor response.
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 later-stage, randomized
human trials in various indications using REOLYSIN®, its
proprietary formulation of the human reovirus. For further
information about Oncolytics, please visit:
www.oncolyticsbiotech.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements,
within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements, including the
Company's expectations related to preclinical work 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 tolerability of REOLYSIN® outside
a controlled test, the success and timely completion of clinical
studies and trials, the Company's ability to successfully
commercialize REOLYSIN®, uncertainties related to the
research, development and manufacturing of pharmaceuticals, changes
in technology, general changes to the economic environment 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 should consider statements that include the
words "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates",
"plans", "projects", "should", or other expressions that are
predictions of or indicate future events or trends, to be uncertain
and forward-looking. 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.
SOURCE Oncolytics Biotech Inc.