CALGARY, March 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - Oncolytics
Biotech® Inc. (Oncolytics or the Company)
(TSX:ONC) (OTCQX:ONCYF) today announced that cancer charity Myeloma
UK launched MUK eleven, a first-of-its-kind immunotherapy
trial that aims to modulate the immune system to target myeloma.
The Phase 1b trial will study immuno-viral therapy,
REOLYSIN® (pelareorep), in combination with Celgene
Corporation's immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs), Imnovid®
(pomalidomide) or Revlimid® (lenalidomide), as a rescue
treatment in relapsing myeloma patients.
"This trial, the first of its kind, is a novel way of activating
a patient's own immune system to target their myeloma
(immunotherapy) using a natural virus and lenalidomide or
pomalidomide, which could offer a new treatment strategy in
myeloma," said MUK eleven Chief Investigator Gordon Cook, Consultant Haematologist at Leeds
Teaching Hospitals Trust.
In MUK eleven, REOLYSIN will be combined with Celgene's
Imnovid® or Revlimid® in patients whose
myeloma is progressing while on these IMiD treatments. The dose
escalation trial will look at the safety and tolerability of these
combinations, and will investigate whether the addition of REOLYSIN
extends disease control in this patient group.
Dr. Adrian Kilcoyne, Celgene UK
and Ireland Medical Director adds, "Celgene is delighted to be
involved in this research with the Institute of Cancer Research,
the University of Leeds, Myeloma UK and Oncolytics Biotech Inc. We
are committed to bold pursuits in science and this is evidence of
how strong collaboration between academia, patient groups and
industry can drive important scientific advances for patients."
This clinical study expands on earlier pre-clinical work by
Professor Cook that demonstrates that REOLYSIN has dual modes of
action against multiple myeloma; being both directly cytotoxic and
also activating immune effector cells to target and destroy cancer
cells. Further, this immune-mediated activity can be enhanced by
immunomodulatory agents to eliminate disease.
"This is an important collaboration for Oncolytics, as testing
IMiD combinations with REOLYSIN is one of the three pillars of our
clinical development plan," said Dr. Matt
Coffey, President and CEO of Oncolytics. "We are eager to
find out if REOLYSIN can enhance the benefits of these immune
modulators and we are excited to start working with Myeloma UK and
Celgene."
The trial will aim to recruit 44 patients across up to six
Myeloma UK Clinical Trial Network centres in the UK. MUK
eleven is part of the Myeloma UK Clinical Trial Network, a
portfolio of early stage trials coordinated by the Clinical Trials
Research Unit at the University of Leeds, focused on testing and
speeding up access to promising new treatments for patients.
"We focus on strategic, collaborative and innovative approaches
to delivering trials and treatments to patients," said Myeloma UK
Director of Research Dr. Simon
Ridley. "Our Clinical Trial Network is focused on ensuring
that patients now, and in the future, are getting access to the
exciting new treatment combinations we are seeing coming down the
line, and so we are pleased to launch this novel trial which
focuses on a pivotal area of myeloma research."
Oncolytics and Celgene UK & Ireland are providing their respective
products for MUK eleven: Oncolytics Biotech Inc. is providing
REOLYSIN and Celgene UK & Ireland is providing Imnovid® and
Revlimid®.
Myeloma UK
Myeloma UK is the only organisation in the
UK dealing exclusively with myeloma, a cancer for which there is no
cure, but many very effective treatments. The charity's broad and
innovative range of services cover every aspect of myeloma from
providing information and support, to improving standards of
treatment and care through research, education, campaigning and
raising awareness. Myeloma UK is passionate and dedicated about
what it does and is committed to improving patient outcomes. The
organisation receives no government funding and relies almost
entirely on voluntary donations and fundraising activities.
For more information visit www.myeloma.org.uk.
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is one of
the largest higher education institutions in the UK, with more than
31,000 students from 147 different countries, and a member of the
Russell Group research-intensive universities.
We are a top 10 university for research and impact power in the
UK, according to the 2014 Research Excellence Framework, and
positioned as one of the top 100 best universities in the world in
the 2015 QS World University Rankings. We are The Times and The
Sunday Times University of the Year 2017 www.leeds.ac.uk.
About Oncolytics Biotech Inc.
Oncolytics is a
biotechnology company developing REOLYSIN, an immuno-oncology
viral-agent, as a potential treatment for a variety of tumor types.
The compound induces selective tumor lysis and promotes an inflamed
tumor phenotype through innate and adaptive immune responses to
treat a variety of cancers. Oncolytics' clinical development
program emphasizes three pillars: chemotherapy combinations to
trigger selective tumor lysis; immuno-therapy combinations to
produce adaptive immune responses; and immune modulator (IMiD)
combinations to facilitate innate immune responses. 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
Company's belief as to the potential of REOLYSIN as a cancer
therapeutic; the Company's expectations as to the success of its
research and development programs in 2017 and beyond, the Company's
planned operations, the value of the additional patents and
intellectual property; the Company's expectations related to the
applications of the patented technology; the Company's expectations
as to adequacy of its existing capital resources; the design,
timing, success of planned clinical trial programs; and other
statements related to anticipated developments in the Company's
business and technologies 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.
SOURCE Oncolytics Biotech Inc.