- Business
- Oncolys BioPharma Inc. Oncolys BioPharma Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the research, development, manufacturing, sale, import, and export of oncolytic viruses, pharmaceuticals, and tumor diagnostic agents targeting cancer and infectious diseases. The company operates through two primary segments, including the pharmaceutical business developing novel therapies such as Telomelysin (OBP-301), a telomerase-specific oncolytic adenovirus in phase II trials for esophageal cancer/gastroesophageal junction tumors by Chugai Pharmaceutical, phase I/II for head and neck cancer combinations with pembrolizumab and radiation, and phase I for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) both as monotherapy and combined with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab; OBP-702 for solid tumors in preclinical stages; OBP-601 (Censavudine), a nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor completed in phase IIb for HIV; OBP-801, a histone deacetylase inhibitor in phase I for solid tumors; and diagnostics business offering TelomeScan (OBP-401 and OBP-1101) for detecting circulating tumor cells along with related inspection services. Founded on March 18, 2004, and headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan, with facilities in Kobe, Japan, and subsidiaries Oncolys USA Inc. in New Jersey and OPA Therapeutics Inc., it conducts operations in Japan, the United States, and other Asian regions through licensing agreements with entities including Okayama University, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Cornell University, Medigen Biotechnology Corp., Astellas Pharma Inc., and Chugai Pharmaceutical. Recent developments encompass ongoing clinical progress by partners such as Chugai Pharmaceutical advancing Telomelysin combinations into phase II for esophageal cancer and phase I for HCC and head and neck applications; private placements including 40,000 Series 20 stock acquisition rights issued to EVO FUND in June 2024 for gross proceeds of 2.2 million yen closing July 2024 and additional 43,300 rights at 920 yen each announced in July 2025; and investigator-initiated phase I/b and phase II trials for Telomelysin plus pembrolizumab in advanced solid tumors and esophageal cancers.