On January 13, 2020 Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (NASDAQ: ONCY) (TSX: ONC) (TSX: ONC.TO), currently developing pelareorep, an intravenously delivered immuno-oncolytic virus, reported a recap of a Key Opinion Leader call sponsored by ROTH Capital Partners which was held on Thursday, January 9, 2020 (Press release, Oncolytics Biotech, JAN 13, 2020, View Source [SID1234553098]). The KOL call focused on recent data presented at the 61st American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting and Exposition and highlighted that carfilzomib promotes reovirus infection, that pelareorep upregulates PD-L1, and that delivery of additional data from ongoing pelareorep studies in multiple myeloma is planned for presentation at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) in June 2020.

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The KOL call was hosted and conducted by the equity research department at ROTH Capital and featured two of Oncolytics’ multiple myeloma clinical investigators:

Dr. Craig Hofmeister M.D., Winship Cancer Institute/Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA.
Dr. Flavia Pichiorri Ph.D., Judy and Bernard Briskin Center for Multiple Myeloma Research, City of Hope, Duarte, CA and Department of Hematologic Malignancies Translational Science, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA.
"I think that carfilzomib promotes pelareorep infection by suppressing the innate antiviral response and our data suggest that it does not get in the way of T-cell activation," said Dr. Hofmeister. "Pelareorep infection, not proteasome inhibition, can upregulate PD-L1 expression on myeloma cells and the adaptive immune system can then assist in clearing infected tumor cells. The combination in fact enhances the body’s immune attack on infected myeloma cells."

Dr. Hofmeister confirmed that adding PD-1 inhibition is appropriate in these patients, as viral infection with replication has been associated with an increase in PD-L1 tumor expression preclinically. "We are seeing some signs of cytokine release with associated clinical responses and we look forward to describing the clinical results in more detail at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) 2020," Dr. Hofmeister added.

The call also discussed the competitive landscape for refractory multiple myeloma and the paucity of available therapies to treat these patients.

"Reovirus is the only strategy I see in the market that is completely different and may be able to activate the immune system of these patients," said Dr. Pichiorri. "It would be a salvage therapy for now, but so many patients need a salvage therapy after being refractory to other therapies."

Oncolytics would like to thank Doctors Pichiorri and Hofmeister for their time and insightful commentary, as well as ROTH Capital for hosting the call.

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.