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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 6-K

Report of Foreign Private Issuer

Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the month of June 2006

Commission File Number 000-31062

Oncolytics Biotech Inc.

(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

Suite 210, 1167 Kensington Crescent NW
Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1X7

(Address of principal executive offices)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

     
Form 20-F   o   Form 40-F   þ

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):   o

Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted solely to provide an attached annual report to security holders.

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):   o

Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted to furnish a report or other document that the registrant foreign private issuer must furnish and make public under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the registrant is incorporated, domiciled or legally organized (the registrant’s “home country”), or under the rules of the home country exchange on which the registrant’s securities are traded, as long as the report or other document is not a press release, is not required to be and has not been distributed to the registrant’s security holders, and, if discussing a material event, has already been the subject of a Form 6-K submission or other Commission filing on EDGAR.

Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in this Form, the registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

     
Yes   o   No   þ

If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):   82 -             

 

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Signatures

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

         
    Oncolytics Biotech Inc.
(Registrant)
 
         
 
Date: June 20, 2006   By:   /s/ Doug Ball
Doug Ball
Chief Financial Officer

 

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Oncolytics Biotech Logo 210, 1167 Kensington Crescent NW
Calgary, Alberta
Canada T2N 1X7

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oncolytics Biotech Inc. Completes Patient Enrolment in
Phase Ia Combination REOLYSIN®/Radiation Clinical Trial
CALGARY, AB, — June 20, 2006 – Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (“Oncolytics”) (TSX:ONC, NASDAQ:ONCY) is pleased to announce that it has completed patient enrolment in its Phase Ia U.K. clinical trial investigating the use of REOLYSIN® in combination with radiation to treat patients with advanced cancers. A total of 11 patients were treated in the Phase Ia trial with two intratumoural treatments of REOLYSIN® at dosages of 1x108, 1x109, or 1x1010 TCID50 with a constant localized radiation dose of 20 Gy in five fractions. A maximum tolerated dose (MTD) was not reached and the combination treatment appears to have been well tolerated by the patients.
Interim results of the trial were presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. in April 2006. Preliminary analysis has demonstrated evidence of local and systemic response.
The Phase Ib portion of the trial, which will immediately follow the Phase Ia portion, will treat patients with a range of two to six intratumoural doses of REOLYSIN® at 1x1010 TCID50 with a constant radiation dose of 36 Gy in 12 fractions.
The primary objective of the trial is to determine the MTD, dose limiting toxicity (DLT), and safety profile of REOLYSIN® when administered intratumourally to patients receiving radiation treatment. A secondary objective is to examine any evidence of anti-tumour activity. Eligible patients include those who have been diagnosed with advanced or metastatic solid tumours that are refractory (have not responded) to standard therapy or for which no curative standard therapy exists.
The principal investigators for the trial are Dr. Kevin Harrington of the Targeted Therapy Laboratory, The Institute of Cancer Research, Cancer Research UK Centre for Cell and Molecular Biology and Honorary Consultant in Clinical Oncology at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK, and Dr. Alan Melcher of the Cancer Research U.K. Clinical Centre at St. James’s University Hospital in Leeds. The trial is enrolling patients at the Royal Marsden and St. James’s Hospitals in the U.K.
About Oncolytics Biotech Inc.
Oncolytics is a Calgary-based biotechnology company focused on the development of oncolytic viruses as potential cancer therapeutics. Oncolytics’ clinical program includes a variety of Phase I and Phase I/II human trials using REOLYSIN®, its proprietary formulation of the human reovirus, alone and in combination with radiation. For further information about Oncolytics, please visit www.oncolyticsbiotech.com
This press release contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements, including the Company’s expectations related to the U.K. Phase Ia combination REOLYSIN®/radiation clinical trial, and the Company’s belief as to the potential of REOLYSIN® as a cancer therapeutic, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the availability of funds and resources to pursue research and development projects, the efficacy of REOLYSIN® as a cancer treatment, the tolerability of REOLYSIN® outside a controlled test, the success and timely completion of clinical studies and trials, the Company’s ability to successfully commercialize REOLYSIN®, uncertainties related to the research and development of pharmaceuticals and uncertainties related to the regulatory process. Investors should consult the Company’s quarterly and annual filings with the Canadian and U.S. securities commissions for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to the forward looking statements. Investors are cautioned against placing undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update these forward-looking statements.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

         
Oncolytics Biotech Inc.   The Equicom Group   The Investor Relations Group
Cathy Ward   Nick Hurst   Damian McIntosh
210, 1167 Kensington Cr NW   20 Toronto Street   11 Stone Street, 3rd Floor
Calgary, Alberta T2N 1X7   Toronto, Ontario M5C 2B8   New York, NY 10004
Tel: 403.670.7377   Tel: 416.815.0700 ext. 226   Tel: 212.825.3210
Fax: 403.283.0858   Fax: 416.815.0080   Fax: 212.825.3229
cathy.ward@oncolytics.ca   nhurst@equicomgroup.com   dmcintosh@investorrelationsgroup.com
www.oncolyticsbiotech.com        

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