NCI sponsors fourth REOLYSIN clinical trial in pancreatic cancer

Jan 18 2011

Oncolytics Biotech Inc. ("Oncolytics") (TSX:ONC, NASDAQ: ONCY) announced today that the Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI), which is part of the National Institutes of Health, has agreed to sponsor a 2-Arm randomized Phase II study of carboplatin, paclitaxel plus REOLYSIN^® versus carboplatin and paclitaxel alone in the first line treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic pancreatic cancer.  The NCI is sponsoring the trial under its Clinical Trials Agreement with Oncolytics, while Oncolytics will provide clinical supplies of REOLYSIN. The Principal Investigator is Dr. Tanios Bekaii-Saab of The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute.

"Pancreatic cancer is typically diagnosed at a later stage, when there is a poor prognosis for long-term survival," said Dr. Tanios Bekaii-Saab, principal investigator. "Although the standard of care has evolved over the last few years, it has only managed to generate very modest improvements in response rate and median overall survival. Given these poor outcomes, we are eager to evaluate new and promising treatments in this indication."

The study is an open-label, multi-institution, 2-arm Phase II randomized study of patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. Patients will be randomized to receive either carboplatin, paclitaxel plus REOLYSIN (Arm A) or carboplatin and paclitaxel alone (Arm B). Patients in both arms will receive treatment every three weeks (21-day cycles). Patients in both arms will be receiving standard intravenous doses of paclitaxel and carboplatin on day one only. In Arm A, patients will also receive intravenous REOLYSIN at a dose of 3x10¹⁰ TCID₅₀ on days one through five. Tumor response assessment will be done by CT scan and conducted every eight weeks. Patients that progress on carboplatin and paclitaxel (Arm B) will have REOLYSIN added. If patients experience significant toxicity related to carboplatin and/or paclitaxel they may continue with single agent REOLYSIN.

The primary objective of the trial is to assess improvement in progression-free survival with REOLYSIN, carboplatin and paclitaxel relative to carboplatin and paclitaxel alone in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. The primary endpoint is progression free survival in both arms. Secondary endpoints include overall response rate and overall survival. The study is expected to enroll approximately 70 patients.

"We continue to expand our clinical relationship with the NCI, as they push forward innovative research initiatives," said Dr. Brad Thompson, President and CEO of Oncolytics. "Partnering with the NCI allows us to cost-effectively expand the evaluation of REOLYSIN into new indications, with a focus on identifying additional targets for future late-stage clinical testing."

This is the fourth clinical trial using REOLYSIN to be sponsored by the NCI.  The NCI is currently conducting a Phase II metastatic melanoma trial, a Phase I/II ovarian, peritoneal and fallopian tube cancer trial, and has announced its intention to sponsor a randomized Phase II trial in patients with persistent or recurrent ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer.