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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 May 2003
Commission File Number 000-31062
Oncolytics Biotech Inc.
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.
Form 20-F [X] 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): ______
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): ______
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.
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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.
Yes [ ] No [X]
If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule12g3-2(b): 82 - ______
| Signatures | ||||||||
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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.
| Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (Registrant) |
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| Date May 21, 2003 | By: | /s/ Douglas A. Ball Douglas A. Ball Chief Financial Officer |
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210, 1167 Kensington Crescent NW | |
| Calgary, Alberta | ||
| Canada T2N 1X7 |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oncolytics Biotech Inc. Announces Issuance of Seventh U.S. Patent
CALGARY, Alberta, May 21, 2003 — Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (TSX: ONC, NASDAQ: ONCY) (‘Oncolytics’) announced that it has been granted U.S. Patent 6,565,831 entitled “Method of Preventing Reovirus Recognition for the Treatment of Cellular Proliferative Disorders.” Allowed claims in this patent cover co-administration of the virus with immune suppressing agents such as Cyclosporin. Additional allowed claims cover the use of the virus in combination with conventional therapeutic agents and treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.
“The Company continues to expand its patent portfolio by anticipating possible REOLYSIN® usage in combination with existing therapies,” said Dr. Matt Coffey, Vice President, Product Development.
About Oncolytics Biotech Inc.
Oncolytics is a Calgary-based biotechnology company focused on the development of REOLYSIN®, its proprietary formulation of the human reovirus, as a potential cancer therapeutic. Oncolytics’ researchers have demonstrated that the reovirus is able to selectively kill human cancer cells in vitro that are derived from many types of cancer, including breast, prostate, pancreatic and brain tumours, and have also demonstrated successful cancer treatment results in a number of animal models. Phase I clinical trial results have indicated that REOLYSIN® was well tolerated and that the reovirus demonstrated activity in tumours injected with REOLYSIN®.
This news 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 Company’s belief as to the safety and efficacy of REOLYSIN® co-administration with immune suppressing agents, alone and in combination with other therapies, including application by systemic delivery, and implications from the results of the Phase I clinical trial; the Company’s expectations as to the design, timing and success of its planned clinical trial programs, including the anticipated enrollment and commencement of additional clinical trials; and other statements related to anticipated developments in the Company’s business and technologies, all of which involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that 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 efficacy of REOLYSIN® as a cancer treatment, the success and timely completion of clinical studies and trials, uncertainties related to the research and development of pharmaceuticals, uncertainties related to the regulatory process and general changes to the economic environment. 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:
For Canada: |
For Canada: | For United States: | ||||||
Oncolytics Biotech Inc. |
The Equicom Group Inc. | The Investor Relations Group | ||||||
Matthew Coffey, Ph.D. |
Joanna Longo | Gino De Jesus or Dian Griesel, Ph.D. | ||||||
210, 1167 Kensington Cr NW, |
20 Toronto Street | 11 Stone St. 3rd Floor | ||||||
Calgary, Alberta T2N 1X7 |
Toronto, Ontario M5C 2B8 | New York, NY 10004 | ||||||
Tel: 403.670.7377 |
Tel: 416.815.0700 ext. 233 | Tel: 212.825.3210 | ||||||
Fax: 403.283.0858 |
Fax: 416.815.0080 | Fax: 212.825.3229 | ||||||
info@oncolyticsbiotech.com |
jlongo@equicomgroup.com | theproteam@aol.com | ||||||
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