On March 31, 2017 Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (Oncolytics or the Company) (TSX:ONC) (OTCQX:ONCYF) reported the presentation of positive overall survival data from an open-label, randomized, Phase 2 study designed by the Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG, formerly known as the National Cancer Institute of Canada – NCIC) (Press release, Oncolytics Biotech, MAR 31, 2017, View Source [SID1234518366]). The 74-patient study, powered to 90 percent, assesses the therapeutic combination of intravenously-administered REOLYSIN given in combination with paclitaxel versus paclitaxel alone in patients with advanced or metastatic breast cancer. Data from the study (IND 213), will be presented during the American Academy of Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, April 1-5, in Washington, DC.

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The abstract reports that in the intention-to-treat (ITT) patient population there was an improvement in median OS (secondary endpoint) from 10.4 months on the control arm to 17.4 months on the test arm (Hazard ratio 0.65, 80% CI 0.46-0.91, p=0.1), meeting the pre-specified significance level for the 90 percent powered study. Consistent with REOLYSIN acting as an immune therapy agent, there was no meaningful improvement in either progression free survival (the primary endpoint), or response rate (secondary endpoint). The Company is now planning a registration study in metastatic breast cancer with overall survival as the primary endpoint.

"This is the first controlled, randomized study where the systemic administration of an immuno-oncology viral agent (REOLYSIN), was well tolerated and had a significant impact on the overall survival of relapsed metastatic breast cancer patients when used in combination with paclitaxel," said Dr. Karen Gelmon, Head, Investigational Drug Program, Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Medical Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Agency.

"There is an emerging pattern, from this and other studies with REOLYSIN, where patients obtain significant benefit in overall survival, despite limited impact on response rates and/or progression-free survival," said Dr. Andres Gutierrez, Chief Medical Officer of Oncolytics. "This is a well-established pattern for other immunotherapies, like checkpoint inhibitors, which have been approved on an overall survival primary endpoint in melanoma, NSCLC and head and neck cancers. These phase 2 data also support the established mode of activity of REOLYSIN where selective cell lysis of permissive cancer cells is followed by an anti-tumor immune response, which may be responsible for the meaningful survival benefit for patients. Taking into account the specific findings from this study, we continue to believe that REOLYSIN is not solely an oncolytic agent, but has key attributes of an immuno-oncology agent as well."

The abstract, authored by Bernstein et al, "A randomized (RCT) phase II study of oncolytic reovirus (pelareorep) plus standard weekly paclitaxel (P) as therapy for metastatic breast cancer (mBC)" is now available on the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) website. CCTG will be making a poster presentation, #8466, at the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, on Tuesday Apr 4, 2017 from 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM, in Washington, DC.

Oncolytics would like to thank the patients that participated in this study, the CCTG and all the physicians and nurses involved.

About Breast Cancer
The American Cancer Society estimates there will be 255,180 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed in the United States and 41,070 deaths from the disease in 2017.