Dr. Matt Coffey reports

ONCOLYTICS BIOTECH ANNOUNCES INVESTIGATOR SPONSORED MULTIPLE MYELOMA STUDY COMBINING REOLYSIN AND NIVOLUMAB (OPDIVO) WITH STANDARD OF CARE

Oncolytics Biotech Inc. is planning a second study in multiple myeloma. This study will combine pelareorep and nivolumab (Opdivo) with standard of care for patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. Pomalyst, an immunomodulatory drug, may be added to the treatment regimen once the safety of the initial combination is demonstrated. The study will be facilitated by Craig C. Hofmeister, MD, MPH, at Emory University, and Douglas Sborov, MD, MS, at the University of Utah.

"This study expands on our strategy of investigating the importance of systemic pelareorep administration followed by checkpoint blockade in selected indications. This investigation with nivolumab represents our third checkpoint inhibitor study entering the clinic after our recently announced window of opportunity study with Tecentriq in breast cancer and our previously announced combinations with Keytruda in multiple myeloma and pancreatic cancer," said Dr. Matt Coffey, president and chief executive officer of Oncolytics Biotech. "The data from this study will add to a growing critical mass of immunological and clinical data being developed by combining pelareorep with checkpoint inhibitors. Importantly, it will not only help us demonstrate the specific role of pelareorep in promoting an inflamed phenotype, it should also help us understand how the virus may promote responses to checkpoint blockade in cold tumours, thus potentially expanding the commercial potential of these immunotherapies."

The objectives of this study will be to evaluate safety in relapsed or refractory myeloma patients and measure the development of a pro-inflammatory phenotype in the tumour microenvironment. Oncolytics will provide pelareorep, while Emory University has secured supply of Opdivo from the manufacturer, as well as per-patient financing. Final study design and other details will be announced upon enrolment of the first patient, expected before the end of 2018.

"Pelareorep, for the treatment of multiple myeloma, has demonstrated safety and the ability to turn cold tumours hot by inducing expression of the checkpoint protein PD-L1 on the surface of myeloma cells," said Dr. Hofmeister. "We plan to capitalize on this inflamed phenotype by infusing pelareorep and the PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor, nivolumab, together."

About Reolysin (pelareorep)

Reolysin, also known as pelareorep, is a non-pathogenic, proprietary isolate of the unmodified reovirus: a first-in-class intravenously delivered immuno-oncolytic virus for the treatment of solid tumours and hematological malignancies. The compound induces selective tumour lysis and promotes an inflamed tumour phenotype through innate and adaptive immune responses to treat a variety of cancers.

About Oncolytics Biotech Inc.

Oncolytics is a biotechnology company developing pelareorep, an intravenously delivered immuno-oncolytic virus. The compound induces selective tumour lysis and promotes an inflamed tumour phenotype -- turning cold tumours hot -- through innate and adaptive immune responses to treat a variety of cancers. Oncolytics's clinical development program emphasizes three pillars: chemotherapy combinations to trigger selective tumour lysis and immunotherapy and immune modulator (IMiD) combinations to produce innate and adaptive immune responses. Oncolytics is currently conducting and planning additional studies in combination with checkpoint inhibitors and targeted and IMiD therapies in solid and hematological malignancies, as it prepares for a phase 3 registration study in metastatic breast cancer.

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