On September 2, 2025 Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (Nasdaq: ONCY) ("Oncolytics" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage immunotherapy company developing pelareorep, reported an updated safety analysis of pelareorep, which has been administered in over 1,200 patients, including over 300 patients with various gastrointestinal tumors (Press release, Oncolytics Biotech, SEP 2, 2025, View Source [SID1234655654]).
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A previous analysis of safety data from studies involving pelareorep (link to the poster) in combination with multiple therapies in over 500 patients concluded that the most frequent adverse events were Grade 1 and 2 fever, chills, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Additionally, Grade 3 or 4 adverse events associated with chemotherapy do not appear to be modified by adding pelareorep to the treatment regimen. An updated analysis involving patients who received at least one intravenous dose of pelareorep demonstrates the existing favorable safety profile of pelareorep in combination with numerous treatment regimens across multiple tumor types.
"With over 1,200 patients dosed and a consistent safety profile, pelareorep represents one of the most de-risked immunotherapies that is not already approved as a treatment option in gastrointestinal tumors," said Jared Kelly, Chief Executive Officer of Oncolytics. "As we move forward to registration-enabled studies, we are confident the safety data will be a positive characteristic for regulators and potential partners."
To date, over 300 gastrointestinal cancer patients across 8 clinical studies have received pelareorep. It has been evaluated in combination with new treatment regimens like modified FOLFIRINOX in metastatic pancreatic cancer and in other tumor types, including colorectal cancer and anal cancer. The most common adverse events associated with pelareorep in patients with gastrointestinal tumors are flu-like symptoms and neutropenia.