CALGARY, Alberta and SAN DIEGO, Nov. 29, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oncolytics Biotech® Inc. (NASDAQ:
ONCY) (TSX: ONC), currently developing pelareorep, an intravenously delivered immuno-oncolytic virus, today announced that Dr. Rita
Laeufle, M.D., Ph.D., who has been working as a consultant for Oncolytics for the last four months, has been appointed as Chief
Medical Officer. Dr. Laeufle will oversee the clinical development plan for pelareorep as the company drives towards a
registration study in breast cancer.
“Dr. Laeufle brings a tremendous track record in clinical advancement to Oncolytics, including an approval in
the treatment of metastatic breast cancer,” said Dr. Matt Coffey, President and Chief Executive Officer of Oncolytics Biotech. “Her
experience in establishing the processes, teams and external support needed to gain approval will be invaluable as we prepare for
our phase three registration study in metastatic breast cancer. With Dr. Laeufle’s additional background in gastrointestinal cancer
and under her guidance, our objective is to establish a second registration pathway in this area, such as colorectal cancer, anal
cancer or pancreatic cancer.”
Dr. Laeufle brings more than 15 years of experience in drug development in oncology, most recently serving as
Vice President of Clinical Development & Medical Affairs at SFJ Pharmaceuticals where she developed a clinical program for a new
drug substance class in colon cancer. Previously, Dr. Laeufle was Senior Vice President, Clinical Development of Oncology at
Coherus Biosciences where she developed a biosimilar strategy for Avastin, prior to which she was Senior Medical Director, Global
Medical Affairs at Clovis Oncology, where she led the Medical Affairs strategy for their PARP inhibitor, Rucaparib. Dr.
Laeufle also served as Senior Medical Director, U.S. Medical Affairs, gastrointestinal (GI) cancers at Genentech where she led GI
disease across molecules and indications, and as Senior PD Medical Director and Clinical Science Leader in Oncology at Roche,
working with Avastin for the treatment of breast cancer where she successfully maintained approval for Avastin in first line
metastatic breast cancer in combination with paclitaxel in Europe and ROW (rest of world). She was Senior Medical Scientific
Expert of Immunology and Infectious Diseases and Senior Pharmacovigilance Leader, Oncology at Novartis and began her pharmaceutical
career as PD Medical Director and Medical Monitor (International Study Manager), Altana Pharma.
“Having had the chance to work with the Oncolytics team since July and evaluate the oncolytic virus space from
an internal perspective, I couldn’t be more excited to join Oncolytics and look forward to being a part of the exciting and rapidly
advancing oncolytic virus therapeutic arena,” said Dr. Laeufle. “Pelareorep’s potential includes a very favorable safety profile
and statistically significant efficacy data in metastatic breast cancer, as well as supporting data that it is a synergistic
treatment option in other cancers, particularly in gastrointestinal cancer in combination with immunotherapy. I strongly believe
that pelareorep has the potential to change the treatment landscape of a wide number of indications based on its synergy with a
number of immunotherapy agents and targeted treatments in oncology.”
Dr. Laeufle, a surgical oncologist, completed her general surgery residency at Buckland Hospital in Dover,
England, Basel Switzerland and Ueberlingen, Germany, and was trained as a surgical oncologist at Staedtisches Krankenhaus, Singen
Germany, where she focused on gastroenterological, thyroid and breast cancer. Dr. Laeufle completed medical school at Medical
School Albert Ludwig University Freiburg i.Br. Germany, where she received her Ph.D. in exploring Her2 oncogenes in brain cancer.
Dr. Laeufle’s work has been published in The Lancet Oncology, the European Journal of Cancer, the Journal of Hepatology and Human
Pathology and she has had multiple posters presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the World Congress on
Gastrointestinal Cancer (WCGC) and the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO).
About Pelareorep
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 tumors and hematological malignancies. The compound induces selective tumor lysis
and promotes an inflamed tumor phenotype through innate and adaptive immune responses to treat a variety of cancers and has been
demonstrated to be able to escape neutralizing antibodies found in patients.
About Oncolytics Biotech Inc.
Oncolytics is a biotechnology company developing pelareorep, an intravenously delivered immuno-oncolytic virus. The compound
induces selective tumor lysis and promotes an inflamed tumor phenotype -- turning "cold" tumors "hot" -- through innate and
adaptive immune responses to treat a variety of cancers. Oncolytics' clinical development program emphasizes three pillars:
chemotherapy combinations to trigger selective tumor lysis and immuno-therapy 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. For further information, 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 and forward-looking information under applicable Canadian securities laws (such forward-looking
statements and forward-looking information are collectively referred to herein as “forward-looking statements”). Forward-looking
statements, including the Company's belief as to the potential and mode of action of REOLYSIN, also known as pelareorep, as a
cancer therapeutic; and other statements related to anticipated developments in the Company's business and technologies 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 pelareorep as a cancer treatment, the success and timely completion of clinical
studies and trials, the Company's ability to successfully commercialize pelareorep, 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,
except as required by applicable laws.
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Company Contact
Michael Moore
Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
858-886-7813
mmoore@oncolytics.ca
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Investor Relations
Robert Uhl
Westwicke Partners
858-356-5932
robert.uhl@westwicke.com
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Media Contact
Jason Spark
Canale Communications
619-849-6005
jason@canalecomm.com
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