Pelareorep

Equity Insider News Commentary Issued on behalf of Oncolytics Biotech Inc. VANCOUVER, BC, July 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Equity Insider News Commentary – As cancer rates climb and drug costs continue to soar, pressure is mounting on the private sector to drive innovation. Now, cancer experts are alarmed over a "gut wrenching" plan from the U.S. government to cut nearly 40% of National Cancer Institute funding, even as the price of oncology treatments pushes new limits—raising urgent concerns about access and affordability. In this shifting landscape, investors are turning their attention to a new wave of biotechs and specialty care providers developing breakthrough therapies and smarter care models, including Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (NASDAQ: ONCY) (TSX: ONC), Celcuity Inc. (NASDAQ: CELC), Citius Oncology, Inc. (NASDQ: CTOR), Exelixis, Inc. (NASAQ: EXEL), and The Oncology Institute, Inc. (NASDAQ: TOI). Continue Reading Amid NCI Budget Fears, Emerging Oncology Stocks Gain Attention Market forecasts suggest oncology could be one of the decade's fastest-growing sectors. Nova One Advisor projects the global oncology drug market will reach US$366.24 billion by 2034, with a 7.4% CAGR. Other firms are even more bullish— ResearchAndMarkets sees the market hitting US$866.1 billion, while Vision Research Reports expects revenue in 2034 to surpass US$903.81 billion, fueled by rising demand for advanced diagnostics and targeted therapies. For emerging cancer stocks, the timing couldn't be better. Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (NASDAQ: ONCY) (TSX: ONC) has highlighted survival data that may redefine expectations for immunotherapy in cold tumors, especially in metastatic pancreatic and breast cancers, where treatment options remain limited. In first-line metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC), Oncolytics's flagship pelareorep, an intravenously delivered immunotherapeutic agent, has a two-year overall survival rate of 21.9% across pooled data from more than 100 patients—more than double the historical benchmark of 9.2%. "We are no longer in the business of funding proof-of-concept studies," said Jared Kelly, newly-appointed CEO of Oncolytics. "We have meaningful clinical data in hand—not just signals. The survival benefit across multiple tumor types demands a focused approach to take pelareorep directly into registration-enabling trials. We will use our fast-track status to find the most efficient regulatory path forward this summer to advance our platform in a product technology." In a single-arm study combining pelareorep with chemotherapy and a checkpoint inhibitor, the objective response rate reached 62% in evaluable patients. No immunotherapy is currently approved in first-line metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Breast cancer results are also very impressive. In HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer (mBC), pelareorep extended median overall survival by more than 10 months across two randomized trials compared to standard chemotherapy. In the BRACELET-1 trial, pelareorep plus paclitaxel delivered median progression-free survival of 12.1 months—nearly doubling the 6.4 months observed in the control arm. "Pelareorep represents a tipping point for immunotherapy in cold tumors," said Dr. Thomas Heineman, Chief Medical Officer of Oncolytics. "It is delivering consistent immunologic and clinical responses in multiple tumor types. Most impressively, pelareorep activates the immune system to produce clinical benefits in cancers that are typically unresponsive to immunotherapies." With over 1,100 patients studied to date, pelareorep continues to demonstrate a favorable safety profile, with most side effects limited to transient, flu-like symptoms. The company says it is now preparing for registration-enabling trials, leveraging its existing Fast Track designations in both mPDAC and HR+/HER2- mBC, as well as Orphan Drug status for pancreatic cancer in both the U.S. and Europe. The company recently reinforced its leadership bench with two high-profile appointments—naming Jared Kelly as Chief Executive Officer and Andrew Aromando as Chief Business Officer—as the company sharpens its focus on late-stage development and strategic transactions. Both men previously played key roles in Ambrx Biopharma's $2 billion acquisition by Johnson & Johnson and bring a track record of value creation in oncology-focused biotechs. Their arrival signals a deliberate pivot toward unlocking the value of pelareorep, Oncolytics' virus-based immunotherapy currently in multiple mid-to-late-stage studies. "Pelareorep's clinical data across multiple tumors is striking and represents the potential for a true backbone immunotherapy to address many in-need indications," said CEO Jared Kelly. "With a renewed focus and sharpened clinical development plan, we believe we will move pelareorep forward effectively and efficiently to a place where potential partners will see the value of a de-risked immunotherapy." As CBO, Aromando is now leading global business development and helping shape the company's corporate, clinical, and regulatory strategies. The leadership tandem is expected to prioritize partnering and expansion opportunities while preserving capital efficiency—a strategy well-suited for pelareorep's growing clinical profile. "I'm thrilled to join Oncolytics at such a pivotal moment in its evolution," said Aromando. "With promising data in difficult-to-treat cancers and a compelling body of clinical evidence in over 1,100 patients, I believe the Company is uniquely positioned to deliver meaningful value to patients and other stakeholders in the near term." Pelareorep holds FDA Fast Track designation in both metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC) and HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer (mBC), and has shown encouraging synergy with checkpoint inhibitors and chemotherapy. In mPDAC, Phase 2 data showed objective response rates above 60% in tumor-evaluable patients, exceeding historical benchmarks, with survival at two years also outperforming expectations. Meanwhile, in HR+/HER2- mBC, two randomized phase 2 trials (IND-213 and BRACELET-1) demonstrated overall survival trends that support continued development. The drug's potential may extend even further. A Phase 2 anal cancer cohort combining pelareorep with a checkpoint inhibitor produced responses that surpassed historical checkpoint monotherapy outcomes, suggesting broader utility. Most recently, new data from the GOBLET trial presented at ASCO 2025 highlighted pelareorep's ability to activate both innate and adaptive immune responses in metastatic pancreatic cancer—reinforcing its potential as a backbone immunotherapy. With experienced leadership now in place and a growing clinical footprint, Oncolytics is advancing toward potential partnership, planning registration-enabling trials, and commercialization readiness—all while maintaining a disciplined, investor-aligned approach to capital and growth. CONTINUED… Read this and more news for Oncolytics Biotech at: In other recent industry developments and happenings in the market include: Celcuity Inc. (NASDAQ: CELC) has reported encouraging early-phase data from two separate clinical trials evaluating gedatolisib in prostate and breast cancer. In metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, a Phase 1 trial combining gedatolisib with darolutamide showed a 66% six-month radiographic progression-free survival rate. "We are very encouraged by this preliminary efficacy and safety data," said Igor Gorbatchevsky, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Celcuity. "The 66% six-month rPFS rate for this novel combination therapy compares favorably to published data for androgen receptor inhibitors in this setting. With no treatment-related discontinuations and less than 3% of patients experiencing Grade 3 stomatitis, we believe it is important to explore additional dose options for gedatolisib." In HER2+ metastatic breast cancer, a Phase 2 trial of gedatolisib plus standard doses of trastuzumab-pkrb showed a 43% objective response rate in patients who had received at least three prior lines of therapy. Citius Oncology, Inc. (NASDQ: CTOR) is preparing to launch LYMPHIR, an FDA-approved immunotherapy for relapsed or refractory cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, in the second half of 2025. "We've made steady and meaningful progress toward commercialization over the past several months," said Leonard Mazur, Chairman and CEO of Citius Oncology and Citius Pharma. "With our supply chain secured, market access supported, and no anticipated impediments to reimbursement, we are encouraged by the momentum we've built. These efforts are pivotal as we transition into a commercial-stage company and believe the planned 2025 launch of LYMPHIR has the potential to be an important inflection point for both the company and the CTCL community." The company has completed commercial-scale manufacturing, secured distribution partnerships, and built a launch strategy with AI-enhanced targeting of key oncology centers. With regulatory infrastructure in place and early clinical interest, Citius is positioned to transition into full commercial operations this year. Exelixis, Inc. (NASAQ: EXEL) reported positive Phase 3 results from its STELLAR-303 trial, showing that zanzalintinib combined with atezolizumab significantly improved overall survival versus regorafenib in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. "The STELLAR-303 results, which showed a survival benefit with the combination of zanzalintinib and atezolizumab versus regorafenib across all randomized patients with previously treated metastatic colorectal cancer, marks an important first milestone for our zanzalintinib pivotal development program," said Amy Peterson, M.D., Executive Vice President, Product Development & Medical Affairs, and Chief Medical Officer, Exelixis. "We look forward to discussing the findings with regulatory authorities and presenting the detailed results at an upcoming medical conference." The combination met one of the trial's dual primary endpoints, and a final analysis for the second—overall survival in patients without liver metastases—is still pending. No new safety signals were observed, and full results are expected at an upcoming medical conference. The Oncology Institute, Inc. (NASDAQ: TOI) has entered into a major partnership with SilverSummit Healthplan to provide oncology care to over 80,000 Medicaid members across Nevada. "We couldn't be more excited about the opportunity to expand our partnership with SilverSummit and help create improved access and quality of cancer care to their Medicaid patient population," said Daniel Virnich, MD, CEO of The Oncology Institute. "We have a longstanding track record of providing outstanding care to Medicaid patients in other markets, and we look forward to broadening these efforts within the Las Vegas community." Effective July 1, TOI is now the exclusive provider of cancer services for SilverSummit's patient base, with dedicated clinics already open in Las Vegas, Henderson, and Spring Valley. The expansion reflects TOI's ongoing growth in value-based oncology, particularly among underserved populations. Both organizations emphasized the importance of delivering high-quality, community-based cancer care tailored to the needs of Medicaid patients. Source: CONTACT: Equity Insider [email protected] (604) 265-2873 DISCLAIMER: Nothing in this publication should be considered as personalized financial advice. We are not licensed under securities laws to address your particular financial situation. No communication by our employees to you should be deemed as personalized financial advice. Please consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decision. This is a paid advertisement and is neither an offer nor recommendation to buy or sell any security. We hold no investment licenses and are thus neither licensed nor qualified to provide investment advice. The content in this report or email is not provided to any individual with a view toward their individual circumstances. Equity Insider is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Market IQ Media Group, Inc. ("MIQ"). MIQ has been paid a fee for Oncolytics Biotech Inc. advertising and digital media from the company directly. There may be 3rd parties who may have shares of Oncolytics Biotech Inc., and may liquidate their shares which could have a negative effect on the price of the stock. This compensation constitutes a conflict of interest as to our ability to remain objective in our communication regarding the profiled company. Because of this conflict, individuals are strongly encouraged to not use this publication as the basis for any investment decision. The owner/operator of MIQ own shares of Oncolytics Biotech Inc. which were purchased in the open market, and reserve the right to buy and sell, and will buy and sell shares of Oncolytics Biotech Inc. at any time without any further notice commencing immediately and ongoing. We also expect further compensation as an ongoing digital media effort to increase visibility for the company, no further notice will be given, but let this disclaimer serve as notice that all material, including this article, which is disseminated by MIQ has been approved by Oncolytics Biotech Inc.; this is a paid advertisement, we currently own shares of Oncolytics Biotech Inc. and will buy and sell shares of the company in the open market, or through private placements, and/or other investment vehicles. While all information is believed to be reliable, it is not guaranteed by us to be accurate. Individuals should assume that all information contained in our newsletter is not trustworthy unless verified by their own independent research. Also, because events and circumstances frequently do not occur as expected, there will likely be differences between the any predictions and actual results. Always consult a licensed investment professional before making any investment decision. Be extremely careful, investing in securities carries a high degree of risk; you may likely lose some or all of the investment. Video - Logo - SOURCE Equity Insider WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED

Comparison with multiple landmark first-line metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma studies substantiates strong two-year survival benefit of 21.9% vs. 9.2% historical benchmark Consistent survival benefit compared to standard-of-care chemotherapy in randomized studies in the large HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer indication Data from over 1,100 patients across tumor types reveals a favorable, well-understood safety profile SAN DIEGO and CALGARY, AB, July 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Oncolytics Biotech® Inc. (NASDAQ: ONCY) (TSX: ONC), a leading clinical-stage company specializing in immunotherapy for oncology, today announced a strategic update highlighting its compelling clinical data from two tumor types and outlining a sharpened focus on advancing pelareorep, the Company’s intravenously delivered oncolytic virus immunotherapy, into registration-enabling studies. “We are no longer in the business of funding proof-of-concept studies,” said Jared Kelly, Chief Executive Officer of Oncolytics. “We have meaningful clinical data in hand—not just signals. The survival benefit across multiple tumor types demands a focused approach to take pelareorep directly into registration-enabling trials. We will use our fast-track status to find the most efficient regulatory path forward this summer to advance our platform in a product technology.” Results from two completed first-line metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC) trials demonstrate a strong and consistent efficacy signal showing extremely rare 2-year overall survival rates of 21.9% vs. 9.2% based on pooled data from over 100 patients across two studies evaluating pelareorep combined with a chemotherapy backbone. In addition, a best-in-class 62% objective response rate (ORR) was observed in a single-arm study of pelareorep in combination with a chemotherapy backbone and a checkpoint inhibitor in 13 evaluable patients. These results collectively represent promising efficacy for a therapeutic regimen that includes an immunotherapy in this difficult-to-treat cancer. Currently, there are no approved immunotherapies for first-line treatment of mPDAC. Clinical results of pelareorep in first-line mPDAC studies Company (Study) Description(Patients) 1-Year Survival 2-Year Survival Notes Oncolytics(REO 017) Pelareorep+ Gemcitabine (34 patients) 45% vs. 22% 24% vs. 4% Disease Control Rate (DCR): 83% vs. 33% Single arm vs. gemcitabine benchmark Oncolytics (NCI 8601) Paclitaxel/Carboplatin + Pelareorep (36 patients) vs. Paclitaxel/Carboplatin (37 patients) 34% vs. 28% 20% vs. 6% Randomized study vs. control arm (excluding crossover) Oncolytics (REO 029) Pelareorep+ Gemcitabine/ Nab-Paclitaxel+ Atezolizumab (13 patients) 45% vs. 35% N/A ORR: 62% vs. 23% Single arm vs. gemcitabine/ nab-paclitaxel benchmark Pelareorep’s clinical activity in HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer – a large indication with continued significant unmet medical need and no currently approved immunotherapies – has been demonstrated in two randomized phase 2 studies, both of which showed a median overall survival (mOS) benefit of greater than 10 months compared to standard-of-care chemotherapy (IND.213 mOS: 21.0 vs. 10.8 months; BRACELET-1 mOS: not statistically reached; conservative estimate = 32.1 months vs. 18.2 months). In the randomized, controlled BRACELET-1 study, pelareorep combined with paclitaxel yielded a 12.1-month median progression-free survival (PFS) compared to 6.4 months in the paclitaxel alone control arm. “Pelareorep represents a tipping point for immunotherapy in cold tumors,” said Dr. Thomas Heineman, Chief Medical Officer of Oncolytics. “It is delivering consistent immunologic and clinical responses in multiple tumor types. Most impressively, pelareorep activates the immune system to produce clinical benefits in cancers that are typically unresponsive to immunotherapies like mPDAC and unresectable HR+/HER2- breast cancer, creating new oncology entry points for immune-based combination therapies.” Data from more than 1,100 patients enrolled in multiple studies across several tumor types affirm that pelareorep has a favorable, well-understood safety profile. The most common treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) are “flu-like” symptoms, such as fever, chills, headache, fatigue, myalgia, cough, anorexia, nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting, and rarely resulted in clinically significant grade ≥3 TRAEs. Adverse events are typically transient and manageable with over-the-counter medications. Pelareorep received Fast Track designations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2017 for metastatic breast cancer and in 2022 for mPDAC in combination with chemotherapy and atezolizumab. In 2015, pelareorep also received Orphan Drug Designations from the FDA and European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. The Company released a new corporate presentation, available on its website, that provides detailed clinical and translational data. About Oncolytics Biotech Inc. Oncolytics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing pelareorep, an intravenously delivered immunotherapeutic agent. Pelareorep has demonstrated promising results in two randomized Phase 2 studies in metastatic breast cancer and Phase 1 and 2 studies in pancreatic cancer. It acts by inducing anti-cancer immune responses and promotes an inflamed tumor phenotype – turning “cold” tumors “hot” – through innate and adaptive immune responses to treat a variety of cancers. Pelareorep has demonstrated synergies with multiple approved oncology treatments. Oncolytics is currently conducting and planning combination clinical trials with pelareorep in solid malignancies as it advances towards registrational studies in metastatic breast cancer and pancreatic cancer, both of which have received Fast Track designation from the FDA. For more about Oncolytics, please visit: www.oncolyticsbiotech.com or follow the company on social media on LinkedIn and on X @oncolytics. This press release contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and forward-looking information under applicable Canadian securities laws (such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information are collectively referred to herein as “forward-looking statements”). Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include statements regarding Oncolytics’ belief as to the potential, mechanism of action and benefits of pelareorep as a cancer therapeutic; our plans, objectives and strategies; our focus on advancing pelareorep directly into registration-enabling trials; our plans to use our fast-track status to find the most efficient regulatory path forward this summer to advance our platform in a product technology; and other statements related to anticipated developments in Oncolytics’ business and technologies. In any forward-looking statement in which Oncolytics expresses an expectation or belief as to future results, such expectations or beliefs are expressed in good faith and are believed to have a reasonable basis, but there can be no assurance that the statement or expectation or belief will be achieved. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause Oncolytics’ actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the availability of funds and resources to pursue research and development projects, the efficacy of pelareorep as a cancer treatment, the success and timely completion of clinical studies and trials, Oncolytics’ ability to successfully commercialize pelareorep, uncertainties related to the research and development of pharmaceuticals, uncertainties related to the regulatory process and general changes to the economic environment. We may incur expenses or delays relating to events outside of our control, which could have a material adverse impact on our business, operating results and financial condition. Investors should consult Oncolytics’ quarterly and annual filings with the Canadian and U.S. securities commissions for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to the forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against placing undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws. Company Contact Jon PattonDirector of IR & Communicationjpatton@oncolytics.ca Investor Relations for OncolyticsMike MoyerLifeSci Advisors+1-617-308-4306mmoyer@lifesciadvisors.com Media Contact for OncolyticsOwen BlaschakLifeSci Communicationsoblaschak@lifescicomms.com Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2408622/5404689/Oncolytics_Biotech_Inc_Logo.jpg SOURCE Oncolytics Biotech® Inc.