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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 April 2005

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   o   Form 40-F   þ

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

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)
 
         
 
Date: April 19, 2005   By:   /s/ Doug Ball
Doug Ball
Chief Financial Officer

 


 

Oncolytics Biotech Logo 210, 1167 Kensington Crescent NW
Calgary, Alberta
Canada T2N 1X7


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Oncolytics Biotech Inc.’s Research Collaborators Present Data on Reovirus Research
at the 96th Annual Meeting of the AACR

CALGARY, AB, — April 19, 2005 - Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (“Oncolytics”) (TSX:ONC, NASDAQ:ONCY) announced today that a poster by Errington et al. entitled “Potential role for reovirus in the treatment of melanoma: Targeted killing and immune stimulation” will be presented on April 20, 2005 at the 96th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research in Anaheim, CA. USA. The research abstract is available on the AACR website (www.aacr.org).

This research supports the use of reovirus as a targeted therapy for melanomas. The research also showed that activation of certain classes of immune cells by the reovirus may enable additional anti-tumour activity beyond that of tumour cell death caused directly by the reovirus.

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 cancer cells and, in vitro, kill human cancer cells 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 press 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 expectations related to ongoing reovirus research, and the Company’s belief as to the potential of REOLYSIN® as a cancer therapeutic, which could include the treatment of melanoma, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which 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 availability of funds and resources to pursue research and development projects, the efficacy of REOLYSIN® as a cancer treatment, the success and timely completion of clinical studies and trials, the Company’s ability to successfully commercialize REOLYSIN®, 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
Dr. 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   mail@investorrelationsgroup.com

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