News Releases
Oncolytics Biotech Inc. Starts Patient Enrolment in U.K. Phase II Clinical Trial

CALGARY, AB, --- December 22, 2006 - Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (“Oncolytics”) (TSX:ONC, NASDAQ:ONCY) announced today that it has commenced patient enrolment in its U.K. Phase II clinical trial to evaluate the anti-tumour effects of direct injection of REOLYSIN® in combination with low-dose radiation in patients with advanced cancers. 

“Today’s announcement marks the beginning of enrolment in the Company’s Phase II combination program, and the largest trial yet for REOLYSIN®,” said Dr. Brad Thompson, President and CEO of Oncolytics. “Our intent with this particular trial is to further characterize the local and systemic anti-tumour effects that have been noted in our successful Phase Ia trial using REOLYSIN® in combination with radiation.” 

The trial is an open-label, single-arm, multi-centre Phase II study of REOLYSIN® delivered via intratumoural injection to patients during treatment with low-dose radiotherapy. Up to 40 evaluable patients, including approximately 20 patients with head, neck and esophageal cancers, and approximately 20 patients with other advanced cancers, will be treated with two intratumoural doses of REOLYSIN® at 1x10(10) TCID(50) with a constant localized radiation dose of 20 Gy in five consecutive daily fractions. Eligible patients include those who have been diagnosed with advanced or metastatic cancers including head, neck and esophageal tumours that are refractory (have not responded) to standard therapy or for which no curative standard therapy exists. The Phase II trial follows a successful Phase Ia combination REOLYSIN®/radiation trial in which enrolment was completed in June 2006. The Phase Ib portion of the combination trial is currently enrolling patients. 

“Based on the encouraging interim results we have seen with this treatment combination, we are very eager to examine the anti-tumour effects of REOLYSIN® and low-dose radiation in a larger, multi-centre Phase II trial,” said Dr. Matt Coffey, Chief Scientific Officer of Oncolytics.

The Principal Investigator for the trial is Dr. Kevin Harrington of the Targeted Therapy Laboratory, Cancer Research UK Centre for Cell and Molecular Biology at The Institute of Cancer Research and Honorary Consultant in Clinical Oncology at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust. The investigators include Dr. Alan Melcher of the Cancer Research U.K. Clinical Centre at St. James’s University Hospital in Leeds, who is also a co-investigator in the Phase I combination trial. The trial will enroll patients at up to six sites, including the Royal Marsden, St. James’s, Southhampton University, and Christie hospitals in the U.K.
Future studies in Oncolytics’ combination program will include a variety of Phase I/II REOLYSIN®/chemotherapy combination trials.

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 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 II combination REOLYSIN®/radiation clinical trial, the planned combination REOLYSIN®/chemotherapy program 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.