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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 2008

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

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 15, 2008   By:   /s/ Doug Ball
Doug Ball
Chief Financial Officer

 


 

     
(ONCOLYTICS LOGO)
  210, 1167 Kensington Cr. N.W.
Calgary, Alberta
Canada T2N 1X7
     
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oncolytics Biotech Inc. Collaborators Present Reovirus Research for
Pediatric Sarcomas at AACR Annual Meeting
CALGARY, AB, — April 15, 2008 – Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (TSX: ONC, NASDAQ: ONCY)
announced that a poster presentation by Dr. Anders Kolb of the Nemours Center for Childhood Cancer Research entitled “Radiation in Combination with Reolysin for Pediatric Sarcomas” was presented today at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting. The meeting is being held in San Diego, California from April 12-16, 2008.
“The combination of REOLYSIN® with radiation is certainly favourable,” said Dr. Kolb. “Statistically significant improvements in event-free survival are seen in mice treated with the combination when compared to either therapy alone.”
The poster covers preclinical work using reovirus in combination with radiation in mice implanted with pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma and Ewing’s sarcoma tumours. The results demonstrated that the combination of reovirus and radiation significantly enhanced efficacy compared to either treatment alone in terms of tumour regression and event-free survival.
“We are very pleased to be working with investigators such as Dr. Kolb,” said Dr. Matt Coffey, Chief Scientific Officer of Oncolytics. “The work completed by Dr. Kolb and his team supports our ongoing efforts in our human trials with REOLYSIN®.”
The poster will be available on the Oncolytics website today at www.oncolyticsbiotech.com
About Oncolytics Biotech Inc.
Oncolytics is a Calgary-based biotechnology company focused on the development of oncolytic viruses as potential cancer therapeutics. Oncolytics’ clinical program includes a variety of Phase I/II and Phase II human trials using REOLYSIN®, its proprietary formulation of the human reovirus, alone and in combination with radiation or chemotherapy. For further information about Oncolytics, please visit www.oncolyticsbiotech.com.
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 implication of the materials presented at this meeting with respect to REOLYSIN®, the Company’s expectations related to the results of trials investigating delivery of REOLYSIN®, and the Company’s belief as to the potential of REOLYSIN® as a cancer therapeutic, 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:
         
Oncolytics Biotech Inc.
Cathy Ward
210, 1167 Kensington Cr NW
Calgary, Alberta T2N 1X7
Tel: 403.670.7377
Fax: 403.283.0858
cathy.ward@oncolytics.ca
  The Equicom Group
Nick Hurst
325, 300 5th Ave. SW
Calgary, AB, T2P 3C4
Tel: 403.538.4845
Fax: 403.237.6916
nhurst@equicomgroup.com
  The Investor Relations Group
Erika Moran
11 Stone St, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10004
Tel: 212.825.3210
Fax: 212.825.3229
emoran@investorrelationsgroup.com
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