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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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 July 2003
Commission File Number 000-31062
Oncolytics Biotech Inc.
(Translation of registrant’s name into English)
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 þ | Form 40-F o |
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): o
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): o
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.
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 o | No þ |
If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82 -
| Signatures | ||||||||
| Press Release | ||||||||
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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 July 22, 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. Granted Ras Targeted Adenovirus Patent
CALGARY, Alberta, July 22, 2003 — Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (TSX: ONC, NASDAQ: ONCY) (“Oncolytics”) announced that it has been granted U.S. Patent 6,596,268 entitled “Viruses for the Treatment of Cellular Proliferative Disorders.” The claims in this patent cover the treatment of Ras mediated tumours using modified adenoviruses.
“The addition of other viruses to our patent portfolio expands our potential product pipeline while strengthening and protecting our underlying core technology and lead product,” said Dr. Matt Coffey, Vice President, Product Development of Oncolytics. “This is the Company’s fourth U.S. patent to issue in 2003, and the first patent related to other viruses that may target the Ras pathway as potential treatments for cancers.”
Allowed claims in this patent cover the use of an adenovirus, modified by deleting the gene encoding for VA1, for the treatment of Ras mediated cancers, including, amongst others, lung, prostate, breast and colorectal. Deletion of the VA1 gene is believed to cause this virus to kill Ras activated cancer cells. Allowed claims also include using this modified virus in combination with conventional cancer treatment interventions such as surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and immune suppressive agents including cyclosporin and rapamycin.
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 value of the adenovirus patent, the safety and efficacy of the use of modified adenoviruses; the Company’s expectations related to the applications of the patented technology, the ability of the technology to strengthen the core technology and the design, timing and success of planned clinical trial programs 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 | ||
| Matt Coffey | Joanna Longo | Gino De Jesus or Dian Griesel, Ph.D. | ||
| 210, 1167 Kensington Cr NW | 20 Toronto Street | 11 Stone Street, 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 | ||
| www.oncolyticsbiotech.com | jlongo@equicomgroup.com | theproteam@aol.com |