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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 March 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 -             



 


 

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 March 3, 2006   By:   /s/ Doug Ball
Doug Ball
Chief Financial Officer

 


 

     
(ONCOLYTICS LOGO)
  210, 1167 Kensington Cr. N.W.
Calgary, Alberta
Canada T2N 1X7
 
For Immediate Release
Oncolytics Biotech Inc. Phase I Combination REOLYSIN®/Radiation
Clinical Trial Abstract Available on AACR Website
CALGARY, AB, — March 3, 2006 — Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (TSX: ONC, NASDAQ: ONCY) announced today that an abstract covering the preliminary results of a Phase I combination REOLYSIN®/radiation clinical trial being conducted in the U.K. is available today on the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) website at www.aacr.org, and on the Oncolytics website at www.oncolyticsbiotech.com. The abstract is entitled “Phase I trial of intratumoral administration of reovirus type 3 (Reolysin) in combination with radiation in patients with advanced malignancies.”
“Early results of the study show that patients are experiencing local and systemic responses to the combination of REOLYSIN® and radiation treatment,” said Dr. Matt Coffey, Oncolytics’ Chief Scientific Officer. “We are pleased with these initial indications of activity, and look forward to providing an update of interim study results at the AACR annual meeting.”
An oral presentation covering more detailed interim results of the Phase I combination clinical trial is scheduled to be delivered at the AACR annual meeting which runs April 1-5 in Washington, D.C. The presentation will be delivered by Principal Investigator Dr. Kevin J. 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.
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 implication of the abstract and materials presented on the AACR website and at this meeting with respect to REOLYSIN®, the Company’s expectations related to the results of trials investigating delivery of REOLYSIN®, 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 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, uncertainties related to the regulatory process and general changes to the economic environment. 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
Cathy Ward
  Nick Hurst
210, 1167 Kensington Cr NW
  20 Toronto Street
Calgary, Alberta T2N 1X7
  Toronto, Ontario M5C 2B8
Tel: 403.670.7377
  Tel: 416.815.0700 ext.226
Fax: 403.283.0858
  Fax: 416.815.0080
www.oncolyticsbiotech.com
  nhurst@equicomgroup.com
 
   
The Investor Relations Group
  RenMark Financial Communications
Damian McIntosh
  John Boidman
11 Stone St, 3rd Floor
  2080 Rene Levesque Blvd. W.
New York, NY 10004
  Montreal, PQ H3H 1R6
Tel: 212.825.3210
  Tel: 514.939.3989
Fax: 212.825.3229
  Fax: 514.939.3717
dmcintosh@investorrelationsgroup.com
  jboidman@renmarkfinancial.com
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