Oncolytics Biotech(R) Inc. Completes Enrolment in Combination REOLYSIN(R)/Gemcita...( CALGARY March 25 / Oncolytics Biotech...)

CALGARY, March 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Oncolytics Biotech Inc. ("Oncolytics") (TSX:ONC, NASDAQ: ONCY) today announced the completion of patient enrolment in its U.K. clinical trial to evaluate the anti-tumour effects of intravenous administration of REOLYSIN(R) in combination with gemcitabine (Gemzar(R)) in patients with advanced cancers including breast, and head and neck. The principal investigators are Dr. Johann de Bono of The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and The Institute of Cancer Research, U.K., and Professor Jeff Evans of the University of Glasgow, Scotland.

A total of 15 patients were enrolled in the trial. Of the ten patients evaluable for response, two patients (breast and nasopharyngeal) had partial responses (PRs) and five patients had SD (stable disease) for 4-8 cycles, for a total disease control rate (CR (Complete response)+PR +SD) of 70%.

"The results to date using this treatment combination in late-stage cancer patients indicate that further studies using this drug combination are warranted," said Dr. Brad Thompson, President and CEO of Oncolytics. "We plan to initiate further studies in the U.S. using a modified dosage regime of REOLYSIN and the commonly used U.S. dosage of gemcitabine (800 mg/m(2)) in patients with advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer in partnership with the Cancer Therapy & Research Center at The University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, (CTRC at UTHSCSA)."

The U.K. trial (REO 009) is an open-label, dose-escalating, non-randomized study of REOLYSIN given intravenously with gemcitabine every three weeks. Gemcitabine (1000 mg/m(2)) was administered to patients in combination with escalating dosages of REOLYSIN intravenously.

Eligible patients included those who had been diagnosed with advanced or metastatic solid tumours including pancreatic, l
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