On June 1, 2026 Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (Nasdaq: ONCY) ("Oncolytics" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage company developing pelareorep, reported initial data from a preclinical study evaluating pelareorep in combination with RAS inhibitor modalities in a solid tumor model, which demonstrate evidence of greater anti-tumor activity in combination than with the individual approaches alone. Pelareorep is an investigational, systemically active immunotherapy that promotes potentially protective immune responses, including the upregulation of key inflammatory cytokines resulting in the formation of tertiary lymphoid structures and the expansion of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes.
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Based on these findings, the Company is planning additional studies in models of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma ("PDAC") and colorectal cancer ("CRC") designed to further evaluate the combinations’ effects on immune activation, tumor response durability, and time-to-resistance. The ongoing work includes evaluations of pelareorep in combination with KRAS G12C inhibitors, pan-RAS inhibitors, and additional next-generation RAS pathway-targeting agents in RAS-mutated tumor models.
"We believe these initial findings further support pelareorep’s potential to serve as an immune-priming backbone for next-generation targeted therapies," said Jared Kelly, Chief Executive Officer of Oncolytics. "RAS-mutated tumors, particularly pancreatic and colorectal cancers, remain among the most difficult cancers to treat due to intrinsic immune resistance and the emergence of therapeutic resistance over time. These preclinical results support further study of the combinations’ anti-tumor and immune effects, including in models designed to assess durability and time-to-resistance."
Mr. Kelly continued, "Importantly, we believe this strategy may ultimately represent a potentially important area for further investigation in pancreatic cancer, where nearly all tumors harbor RAS pathway alterations and where patients continue to face extremely limited treatment options. The potential synergy observed in previous PDAC clinical studies and preclinical RAS-targeted modalities reinforces our belief that pelareorep may play an important role in future combination strategies designed to improve the durability of targeted therapies."
Full results from the initial preclinical studies are expected to be presented in the fall or winter of 2026.
(Press release, Oncolytics Biotech, JUN 1, 2026, View Source [SID1234666316])