Oncolytics Biotech Inc, currently developing Reolysin (pelareorep), an intravenously delivered immuno-oncolytic virus turning cold tumours hot, announced an investigator sponsored study (IST) supported by Merck Inc. (Merck), Northwestern University (Northwestern) and Oncolytics. This study is an extension of the previously reported phase 1 study (REO 024) that will investigate pelareorep in combination with Merck’s anti-PD1 checkpoint inhibitor Keytruda, to treat second line pancreatic cancer patients. The study, run by the principal investigator of REO 024, Dr. Devalingham Mahalingam, will plan to enroll approximately 40 patients with advanced pancreatic cancer and will be conducted at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University.

"This study using Merck’s Keytruda is our second I-O combination in human trials after our multiple myeloma study in combination with Celgene’s Imnovid and Revlimid," said Dr. Matt Coffey, president and CEO of Oncolytics Biotech. "We’re very happy with Merck’s increased involvement in our pancreatic studies and believe combining pelareorep with Keytruda poses an exciting opportunity to lay additional groundwork towards our ultimate goal – to expand the use of check point inhibitors as anti-cancer agents by promoting an inflamed phenotype in the tumor, or turning cold tumours hot.”

“REO 024, a phase 1b study combining pelareorep and Keytruda in second line pancreatic patients, was designed to evaluate safety and tolerability of the combination,” said Dr. Mahalingam, Associate Professor of Medicine (Haematology and Oncology), Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. “The results from that study demonstrated that the combination is safe, but also that there was early evidence of clinical activity, including one patient that had a partial response lasting 17.4 months and two with stable disease of 126 days and 277 days. This new phase two study will enroll patients with advanced pancreatic cancer failing front line chemotherapy and will primarily evaluate overall response rate of the combination therapy.  The study will also provide important biomarker data determined by analysis of pre- and post-treatment biopsies and blood-based immune markers.”Final study design and other details will be announced upon enrollment of the first patient, expected in the third quarter 2018.

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 tumor lysis and promotes an inflamed tumour phenotype through innate and adaptive immune responses to treat a variety of cancers.

Oncolytics is a biotechnology company developing Reolysin, also known as 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' clinical development programme emphasizes three pillars: chemotherapy combinations to trigger selective tumour lysis and immuno-therapy and immune modulator (IMiD) combinations to produce innate and adaptive immune responses. Oncolytics is currently planning its first registration study in metastatic breast cancer, as well as studies in combination with checkpoint inhibitors and targeted and IMiD therapies in solid and haematological malignancies.