Strong tumor response rate in Reolysin Ph II trial

Canadian drug developer Oncolytics Biotech has reported strong data from a Phase II trial evaluating the objective tumor response rate of  Reolysin (human reovirus) plus low-dose radiation in patients with  advanced cancers.

A total of 16 heavily pre-treated patients with advanced cancer were  enrolled. Most had received prior chemotherapy or radiation. Of 14  subjects evaluable for response, 13 people had stable disease or better  in the treated target lesions. Of these, partial responses were observed  in four patients and minor responses were observed in two, for a total  disease control rate of 93% in the treated lesions. The combination was  well tolerated, with only mild (Grade 1 or 2) toxicities noted.

"This is a very high disease-control rate in patients who have undergone  prior therapies," said Brad Thompson, chief executive of Oncolytics.  "This combination resulted in marked responses or stabilization in the  treated target lesions for most of the patients. These results are  expected to allow us to pursue Reolysin in combination with radical  radiotherapy in future clinical trials," he added.