Oncolytics Biotech Inc. announced that it has been granted US Patent 7,431,932 entitled "Reovirus Clearance of Ras-Mediated Neoplastic Cells from Mixed Cellular Compositions." The claims cover methods of selectively removing cancer cells ex vivo from blood stem cells and other organs using reovirus.

"The claims of this patent cover situations where hematopoietic (blood) stem cells are involved in transplantation and add to the depth of our patent portfolio in the transplantation area," said Mary Ann Dillahunty, vice president of Intellectual Property for Oncolytics.

Oncolytics is a Calgary-based biotechnology company focused on the development of oncolytic viruses as potential cancer therapeutics. Oncolytics' clinical programme includes a variety of phase I/II and phase II human trials using Reolysin, its proprietary formulation of the human reovirus, alone and in combination with radiation or chemotherapy.