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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 May 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:  May 30, 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 to Present
Reovirus Research at ASGT Meeting
CALGARY, AB, — May 30, 2008 — Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (TSX: ONC, NASDAQ: ONCY) announced today that two presentations covering preclinical work using the reovirus are scheduled to be delivered by Dr. Richard Vile of the Mayo College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota, at the American Society of Gene Therapy (ASGT) annual meeting in Boston, MA. The meeting runs from May 28 to June 1, 2008.
A poster presentation entitled “Combination Immunotherapy and Oncolytic Virotherapy for the Treatment of Malignant Mesothelioma” is scheduled to be presented on Friday, May 30, 2008. The poster covers preclinical work using oncolytic viruses including reovirus against mesothelioma, a rare but deadly cancer. In vitro data show that mesothelioma cells are sensitive to and support replication of reoviruses. In addition, data suggesting how anti-tumour immunity can be enhanced will be presented.
An oral presentation entitled “Purging Lymph Node Metastases with Adoptive T Cell Therapy, Oncolytic Virotherapy and Immunotherapy” is scheduled to be presented on Saturday, May 31, 2008. In many cancers, disease spreads to other parts of the body via the lymph nodes. In this study, the investigators demonstrated that normal T-cells pre-loaded with reovirus localize to lymph nodes, spleen and liver and deliver the virus to sites of metastatic disease. In addition, killing the tumour cells in the lymph nodes and spleen by reovirus generated potent anti-tumour immunity, preventing repopulation of the lymph nodes and spleen by further waves of cells spreading from the primary tumour. The researchers are continuing to investigate methods of improving virus delivery, and developing clinical protocols that will examine purging lymph nodes of tumor cells using reovirus.
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 the ASGT 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, Alberta 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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