Oncolytics Biotech Inc. Research Collaborators to Present Reovirus Research at European National Societies of Immunology Meeting
CALGARY, Canada, September 8 -- Oncolytics Biotech Inc. ("Oncolytics") (TSX:ONC, NASDAQ:ONCY) announced that a poster by A. Melcher et al of the Cancer Research U.K. Clinical Centre, Leeds, UK, Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK, University of Surrey, Guildford, U.K. entitled "Reovirus Activates Dendritic Cells (DC) and Promotes Innate Anti-Tumour Immunity" will be presented tomorrow, September 9, 2006 at the 1st Joint Meeting of European National Societies of Immunology. The meeting is being held from September 6-9, 2006 in Paris, France.
"These results are exciting as they suggest that in addition to direct cancer cell killing, the reovirus may assist the immune system in fighting cancer cells," said Dr. Matt Coffey, Chief Scientific Officer of Oncolytics.
The poster highlights the researchers' use of isolated human cells to examine whether the use of the reovirus as a direct tumour killing agent might also activate the innate immune system to play a role in the killing of tumour cells. The innate immune system is the broad, short-term and non- specific first-line immune response to an infection. The research showed that the reovirus can infect and activate immature human dendritic cells.
The reovirus-activated DC triggered anti-tumour cytotoxicity when co- cultured with two other types of immune cells, natural killer cells and autologous T-cells. The researchers concluded that the reovirus may support early innate anti-tumour immunity as well as inducing direct tumour cell death.
The poster will be available today on the Oncolytics website at www.oncolyticsbiotech.com.
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 I/II human trials using REOLYSIN(R), its proprietary formulation of the human reovirus, alone and in combination with radiation. 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, 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.
Source: Oncolytics Biotech Inc. - PRNewswire
For further information: For Canada: Oncolytics Biotech Inc., Cathy Ward, 210, 1167 Kensington Cr NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1X7, Tel: +1(403)-670-7377, Fax: +1-(403)-283-0858, cathy.ward@oncolytics.ca, www.oncolyticsbiotech.com; For Canada: The Equicom Group, Nick Hurst, 20 Toronto Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5C 2B8, Tel: +1-(416)-815-0700 ext. 226, Fax: +1-(416)-815-0080, nhurst@equicomgroup.com; For United States: The Investor Relations Group, Damian Mcintosh, 11 Stone St, 3rd Floor, New York, NY, 10004, Tel: +1-(212)- 825-3210, Fax: +1-(212)-825-3229, dmcintosh@investorrelationsgroup.com
|
|
