- Business
- Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (TSX: ONC, NASDAQ: ONCY) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the research, development, and commercialization of oncolytic virus immunotherapies for oncology. The company develops pelareorep, an intravenously administered, non-pathogenic reovirus immunotherapy that selectively replicates in cancer cells to induce innate and adaptive anti-tumor immune responses, transforming immunologically "cold" tumors "hot" by upregulating interferons, chemokines, and PD-L1 expression; pelareorep is evaluated as a monotherapy or in combination with standard-of-care treatments including chemotherapy (such as paclitaxel, gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel, and modified FOLFIRINOX), immune checkpoint inhibitors (including atezolizumab), and targeted therapies across multiple cancer indications. Its pipeline targets high-need solid tumors such as HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer (via the BRACELET-1 and AWARE-1 trials), pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and other gastrointestinal (GI) cancers including colorectal cancer, squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal (via the GOBLET study), hematologic malignancies like multiple myeloma, and expanded applications in metastatic colorectal and anal cancers.
Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, with additional operations in San Diego, California, the company operates primarily in North America while collaborating globally with pharmaceutical partners such as Roche Holding AG, Pfizer Inc., Merck Serono, Incyte Corporation, and Adlai Nortye, as well as academic institutions including Mayo Clinic, Duke University, Rutgers Cancer Institute, Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, and others.
In recent developments, Oncolytics reported promising 2024 randomized Phase 2 data from BRACELET-1 showing substantial clinical benefit of pelareorep plus paclitaxel over paclitaxel alone in HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer, alongside efficacy signals in pancreatic and anal cancers, positioning 2025 as a pivotal year with anticipated registrational studies. The company strengthened its GI cancer pipeline in February 2025 with advances in pancreatic and anal indications, established a Gastrointestinal Tumor Scientific Advisory Board in November 2025, aligned with the FDA on a pivotal first-line pancreatic cancer study design in November 2025, and reported updated October 2025 anal cancer data demonstrating an objective response rate more than double the standard of care. Additionally, in April 2025, Oncolytics secured flexible non-dilutive funding through a share purchase agreement with Alumni Capital LP to support pelareorep's clinical milestones, expanded U.S. sites for the GOBLET study in September 2025, and initiated plans in October 2025 to change its jurisdiction of incorporation to Nevada via a special shareholder meeting.