Oncolytics Biotech issued new U.S. patent - reovirus for the treatment of neoplasia

Oncolytics Biotech Inc. has announced that it has been granted U.S. Patent 7,300,650 entitled "Reovirus for the Treatment of Neoplasia."

The claims describe methods of using the reovirus to treat cancers that have inactivated PKR, whether the PKR is inactivated by mutation of Ras or by other factors. PKR is a host cellular protein responsible for preventing virus replication within a cell. Tumour cells lacking the activity of PKR are susceptible to reovirus replication and subsequently, cancer cell killing.

"This patent represents a significant expansion of our intellectual property portfolio," said Dr. Matt Coffey, Chief Scientific Officer of Oncolytics. "The claims cover additional pathways whereby tumours can become susceptible to reovirus infection and cell death."