Form 6-K
Table of Contents

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 August 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 -             

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Signatures
Press Release

Table of Contents

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: August 10, 2005   By:   /s/ Doug Ball
Doug Ball
Chief Financial Officer

 

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oncolytics Biotech Inc. Announces Issuance of First Canadian Patent
- Continues to Strengthen Intellectual Property -
CALGARY, AB, August 10, 2005 — Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (TSX: ONC, NASDAQ: ONCY) (“Oncolytics”) has been granted Canadian Patent 2,374,388 entitled “The use of ribozymes in the detection of adventitious agents.” The claims provide a method of validating the purity of microbial preparations during manufacturing by detecting adventitious or contaminating viruses using a ribozyme-based assay that is specific for the microorganism being manufactured. The microorganisms can include, amongst others, the reovirus, and modified adeno, herpes, vaccinia, p53 expressing, and vesticular stomatitis viruses.
“This first Canadian patent is an important addition to our portfolio of issued patents, including 13 U.S., 2 European and numerous others worldwide,” said Dr. Matt Coffey, Chief Scientific Officer for Oncolytics. “As we are advancing REOLYSIN® through clinical studies, we will continue to focus on developing and protecting the manufacturing process of REOLYSIN®.”
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, bladder 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®. Oncolytics has developed a strategy to pursue the licensing of its Canadian patents for research, development and commercial activities and will be negotiating appropriate licenses with the individuals, institutions and companies involved in those activities in Canada.
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 among others, the Company’s belief as to the safety and efficacy of the reovirus, the Company’s expectations as to the potential applications of the patented technology and other statements relating to anticipated developments in the Company’s business and technologies, 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
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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