Oncolytics Collaborators Present at UK Oncolytic Virus Conference

Oncolytics Biotech Inc. has announced that Dr. Alan Melcher, Professor of Clinical Oncology and Biotherapy at the University of Leeds, presented at the 8th Annual International Conference on Oncolytic Virus Therapeutics held in Oxford, UK.

Dr. Melcher's presentation, titled "Clinical Virotherapy and Immune Modulation; Bench to Bedside and Back Again," covered early clinical research showing that intravenously delivered REOLYSIN® can cross the blood brain barrier to access tumours in the brains of humans and preclinical research examining the synergies associated with treatment in animal models with GM-CSF prior to administering REOLYSIN®.

"We are very encouraged by our recent data on the potential benefits of reovirus for patients with cancer," said Dr. Melcher. "We have now shown that intravenous reovirus can access tumours in the brain as well as the liver in patients, and combining the virus with granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor enhances therapy in a range of pre-clinical cancer models. This 'bench to bedside and back again' research is essential to inform how best to develop reovirus as an effective, safe anti-cancer treatment."

Dr. Melcher also outlined two planned clinical studies. The first is a biological endpoint study examining the use of REOLYSIN® with or without GM-CSF in patients with advanced melanoma prior to resection. The second is a trial of REOLYSIN® and GM-CSF in combination with chemoradiation following surgery for high grade gliomas.

"The possibility of treating patients with REOLYSIN® in combination with a non-chemotherapeutic is of great interest," said Dr. Brad Thompson, President and CEO of Oncolytics. "Early clinical data suggesting that intravenously delivered REOLYSIN® can cross the blood brain barrier and infect tumours opens up the possibility of treating a large patient group with unmet needs, specifically those with brain metastases associated with a number of cancer types."