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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 March 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 -
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
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Oncolytics
Biotech Inc.
(Registrant) |
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| Date: March 17, 2008 |
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By: |
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/s/ Doug Ball
Doug Ball
Chief Financial Officer |
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210, 1167 Kensington Crescent NW |
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Calgary, Alberta |
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Canada T2N 1X7 |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oncolytics Biotech Inc. Announces Publication of Research on Immune Response
to REOLYSIN® during a Phase I Clinical Trial
CALGARY, AB, March 17, 2008 — Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (TSX: ONC, NASDAQ: ONCY) (‘Oncolytics’)
reported today that Dr. Kevin Harrington and his research group at The Institute of Cancer
Research, London, U.K. published the results of their work characterizing immune system responses
to administration of intravenous REOLYSIN® in a Phase I clinical trial. The paper,
entitled “Characterization of the Adaptive and Innate Immune Response to Intravenous Oncolytic
Reovirus (Dearing Type 3) during a Phase I Clinical Trial” appears online in the March 6, 2008
issue of Gene Therapy.
“This important work further defines the relationship between viral therapy and human immune
response, and supports the development of our ongoing Phase II clinical trial program,” said Dr.
Brad Thompson, President and CEO of Oncolytics.
The investigators conducted a detailed analysis of the immune effects of intravenous viral therapy
by collecting and analyzing immune response to the presence of the virus. The results suggest that
reovirus may stimulate the immune system to mount a dynamic immune response to the presence of
virus, increasing the potential to significantly enhance the efficacy of oncolytic virotherapy.
About a third of those patients also showed increases in NK (natural killer) cells following
therapy. The data support the development of interventions aimed at blunting the patient’s immune
response, although preclinical data also suggest that maintaining a baseline level is necessary to
restrict systemic spread/toxicity of the virus.
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 in “Gene Therapy” 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
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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
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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
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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
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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 |
