Oncolytics Biotech(R) Inc. Completes Patient Enrolment in U.K. Combination REOLYSIN(R) and Paclitaxel/Carboplatin Head and Neck Ca...( CALGARY July 2 / Oncolytics Biotech I...)

CALGARY, July 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (TSX: ONC, NASDAQ: ONCY) announced today that patient enrolment has been completed in the Phase II component of a Phase I/II U.K. trial of REOLYSIN combined with paclitaxel/carboplatin for patients with advanced cancers. The principal investigators for the trial are Dr. Kevin Harrington of The Institute of Cancer Research, London, England, and Dr. Geoff Hall of St. James's Institute of Oncology, Leeds.

A total of 30 patients have been treated in the Phase I/II trial (REO 011), including 23 head and neck cancer patients. Of these head and neck patients, 17 patients have been treated in the Phase II portion of the trial.

Eligible patients in the Phase II portion of the trial included those with advanced or metastatic head and neck cancers that are refractory to standard therapy or for which no curative standard therapy exists.

Interim results reported in March 2009 demonstrated that of 12 head and neck patients evaluable for clinical response, five had experienced a partial response (PR) and four had experienced stable disease (SD) ranging from two to six months, for a clinical benefit rate of 75%.

"This is an outstanding response rate in this difficult-to-treat patient population, and formed the basis of the Phase III pivotal program now being developed for REOLYSIN in combination with carboplatin/paclitaxel for head and neck cancer patients," said Dr. Brad Thompson, President and CEO of Oncolytics.

Final results of the trial are expected to be released later this year.

An independent, confirmatory Phase II trial using the same combination of REOLYSIN and carboplatin/paclitaxel for patients with head and neck cancers is currently underway in the U.S.

About Oncolytics Biotech Inc.

Oncolytics is a Calgary-based biotechnolog
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