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Measles may be one of the most common contagious diseases in the world, but new research shows that it does not spread through one’s body via airways and the lungs, as long believed.

Mayo Clinic researchers, whose work was published in the June 20 online edition of The Journal of Clinical Investigation , reported that the measles virus instead spreads through immune system cells called lymphocytes. This new finding may help bring about more effective vaccines for viruses and might even help improve the effectiveness and safety of some cancer therapies, the researchers said.

“It has long been assumed that measles virus infects the airway epithelium [surface lining cells] before infecting immune cells,” senior author Roberto Cattaneo, a Mayo Clinic virologist, said in a prepared statement. “But we’ve shown that replication in the airways is not required, and that a virus replicating only in immune cells causes …

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TELECOMWORLDWIRE-20 June 2008-Yahoo! introduces two new e-mail domains(C)1994-2008 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD http://www.m2.com

Internet company Yahoo! Inc (Nasdaq:YHOO) announced on Thursday (19 June) the global availability of two new e-mail domains, ymail.com and rocketmail.com.

These two domains will give let users get a new Yahoo! e-mail address at ymail.com and rocketmail.com.

Many desirable e-mail addresses have already been taken for the yahoo.com domain, as well as for localised versions of the namespace in countries around the world. With these two new e-mail domain choices, Yahoo! will make millions of new e-mail addresses available to the online community, the company said.

E-mail addresses at the new domains will have the same Yahoo! Mail features as addresses at the yahoo.com domain, including unlimited storage, Integrated Instant Messaging and Text Messaging, protection from spam and viruses and a country-specific e-mail account.

The Yahoo! ID will work for all features on the Yahoo! Network, from checking e-mail to checking out Messenger, Flickr, Groups, Sports, Finance and more.

In addition, Yahoo! has reserved a number of desirable e-mail addresses, all related to charitable organisations, using the new domains and will put these e-mail addresses up for charity auction beginning on 19 June 2008, auction partners, eBay Giving Works and Auction Cause.

The proceeds from the auction will reportedly benefit the following organisations: The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Ocean Conservancy, Point Foundation, Right To Play and World Wildlife Fund.

((Comments on this story may be sent to tww.feedback@m2.com))

COPYRIGHT 2008 M2 Communications Ltd.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning

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BRISBANE, Calif., June 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — InterMune, Inc. today announced that John Hodgman, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of InterMune, will present at the Jefferies 2nd Annual Healthcare Conference in New York on June 25, 2008 at 2:30 p.m. EDT.

To access a live audio webcast of the presentation, investors and other interested parties may log on to the investor relations page of InterMune’s corporate website at http://www.intermune.com/. The company recommends logging on to the site 15 minutes prior to the start of the presentation in order to register or download any necessary software.

About InterMune

InterMune is a biotechnology company focused on the research, development and commercialization of innovative therapies in pulmonology and hepatology. InterMune has a research and development portfolio addressing idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. The pulmonology portfolio includes the Phase 3 program, CAPACITY, which is evaluating pirfenidone for the treatment of patients with IPF and a research program focused on small molecules for pulmonary disease. The hepatology portfolio includes the HCV protease inhibitor compound ITMN-191 (referred to as R7227 at Roche) in Phase 1b, a second-generation HCV protease inhibitor research program, and a research program evaluating a new target in hepatology. For additional information about InterMune and its R&D pipeline, please visit http://www.intermune.com/.

CONTACT: Jim Goff of InterMune, Inc., +1-415-466-2228, jgoff@intermune.com

Web site: http://www.intermune.com/

COPYRIGHT 2008 PR Newswire Association LLC
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning

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Laboratory confirmation of measles and rubella is an important component of disease surveillance in all settings. Because the use of clinical diagnosis for surveillance is unreliable, case-based laboratory confirmation of disease is critically important in settings with measles or rubella elimination goals. The World Health Organization (WHO) Measles and Rubella Laboratory Network (LabNet) was established in 2000 to provide a standardized testing and reporting structure and a comprehensive, external quality-assurance program (I). LabNet currently consists of 679 laboratories serving 166 countries. However, measles and rubella surveillance remains incomplete in certain areas because of difficulties with the collection and transport of serum specimens. Recently, LabNet evaluated two alternative sampling approaches to serum samples, the use of dried blood spots (DBS) and oral fluid (OF) samples. Both of these approaches have potential to be useful tools for measles and rubella control programs. In June 2007, WHO convened an ad hoc meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, to review available data and provide recommendations on use of DBS and OF samples for measles and rubella diagnostics. Attendees included LabNet staff members and scientists who had been conducting studies to evaluate use of these alternative diagnostic samples. The attendees concluded that 1) although serum-based diagnostics remain the "gold standard," the use of these two alternative sampling techniques would not adversely affect routine measles and rubella surveillance and might enhance surveillance; 2) regions in the elimination phase ** that already have established serum-based testing for rash illness surveillance would not likely benefit from converting to DBS or OF sampling methods, except in special circumstances; and 3) DBS or OF sampling are viable options for measles and rubella surveillance in all regions, especially where patients might resist venipuncture for blood collection, or where special challenges exist with transport or refrigeration of diagnostic samples.

Background on Use of Alternative Diagnostic Samples

Conventional laboratory confirmation of suspected cases of measles and rubella is based on the detection of virus-specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) in a single serum sample collected soon after the onset of symptoms (2). In addition, detection of viral RNA by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), usually in a throat swab or urine sample, and subsequent genotyping of strains is valuable for diagnosis and molecular epidemiology (2). Accurate laboratory results for detection of IgM and viral RNA are dependent on proper collection, processing, shipment, and storage of clinical samples and use of accurate tests performed by a proficient laboratory. However, collection of blood samples by venipuncture, particularly from children, can be a challenge, and the sustained refrigeration required for diagnostic samples during transport is not always achievable. In these situations, alternatives to serum collection can be useful.

DBS has been used for various epidemiologic studies for the detection of measles- and rubella-specific IgG and IgM antibodies and viral RNA (3-5). Antibody and viral RNA are sufficiently stable on DBS at [less than or equal to] 98.6[degrees]F ([less than or equal to] 37.0[degrees]C) to allow this sample collection method to be used for case confirmation or molecular epidemiology in areas where sample refrigeration is not feasible. OF has been used in similar studies and for the national measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) surveillance program in the United Kingdom (UK) for approximately 10 years (6,7). OF is easy to collect, and collection is more acceptable to the population (6), thereby enabling health-care workers to obtain more complete sampling for suspected cases.

[FIGURE 1 OMITTED]

Evaluations Comparing Alternative Diagnostic Samples with Serum-Based Diagnostics

Since 2001, LabNet reference laboratories in Australia, Cote d’Ivoire, Netherlands, Turkey, Uganda, the UK, and the United States have been working to 1) determine IgM and RNA stability in DBS and OF samples and 2) optimize the methods for IgM antibody assay and protocols for RNA detection in DBS and OF samples (8-10). This work has provided data on sensitivity and specificity of OF and DBS samples compared with serum and also has identified logistic challenges in implementing alternative sampling techniques. Three different types of data were available for review during the ad hoc meeting. First, beginning in 2001, LabNet laboratories conducted studies that collected OF, DBS, and corresponding serum samples from persons with suspected measles or rubella during outbreaks and tested the samples for the presence of measles- or rubella-specific IgM antibodies. Second, LabNet reviewed data from the MMR surveillance program in the UK, where 1,000-3,000 OF samples have been collected annually during the past decade. Third, LabNet reviewed data from seven countries in the WHO African Region that used DBS sampling methods for routine measles and rubella surveillance during 2005-2007. DBS was either the only sample collected (Sierra Leone) or was collected in conjunction with routine serum collection (Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Senegal, and Zambia). Standard protocols for sample collection and laboratory testing recommended by LabNet were used (2).

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TABLE I. Provisional cases of infrequently reported notifiable
diseases (<1,000 cases reported during the preceding year)--United
States, week ending June 14, 2008 (24th Week) *

                                                               5-year
                                                               weekly
                                           Current    Cum     average
Disease                                     week     2008    ([dagger])

Anthrax                                       --       --         --
Botulism:
    foodborne                                 --        4          0
    infant                                    --       32          2
    other (wound & unspecified)               --        5          1
Brucellosis                                    1       35          2
Chancroid                                     --       23          0
Cholera                                       --       --          0
Cyclosporiasis ([section])                     4       35         11
Diphtheria                                    --       --         --
Domestic arboviral diseases
([section]),([paragraph]):
    California serogroup                      --       --          1
    eastern equine                            --       --          0
    Powassan                                  --       --          0
    St. Louis                                 --       --          0
    western equine                            --       --         --
Ehrlichiosis/Anaplasmosis
  ([section]), **:
    Ehrlichia chaffeensis                     12       73         13
    Ehrlichia ewingii                         --       --         --
    Anaplasma phagocytophilum                 --       20         17
    undetermined                              --        2          8
Haemophilus influenzae, ([dagger]
  [dagger])
  invasive disease (age <5 yrs):
    serotype b                                --       17          0
    nonserotype b                              1       81          3
    unknown serotype                           3      106          3
Hansen disease ([section])                    --       32          2
Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome
  ([section])                                 --        6          1
Hemolytic uremic syndrome,
  postdiarrheal ([section])                    2       47          5
Hepatitis C viral, acute                      16      335         16

HIV infection, pediatric (age <13 yrs)
  ([section][section])                        --       --          4
Influenza-associated pediatric mortality
  ([section]),([paragraph][paragraph])         5       86          1
Listeriosis                                    2      210         14
Measles ***                                   --       77          1
Meningococcal disease, invasive
  ([dagger][dagger][dagger]):
    A, C, Y, & W-135                           1      144          6
    serogroup B                               --       79          4
    other serogroup                           --       16          0
    unknown serogroup                          8      337         13
Mumps                                          2      224         29
Novel influenza A virus infections            --       --         --
Plague                                        --        1          0
Poliomyelitis, paralytic                      --       --         --
Poliovirus infection, nonparalytic
  ([section])                                 --       --         --
Psittacosis ([section])                       --        3          0
Q fever ([section]),([section]
  [section][section])	otal:                   2       46          4
    acute                                      2       42         --
    chronic                                   --        4         --
Rabies, human                                 --       --          0
Rubella ([paragraph][paragraph]
  [paragraph])                                --        6          0
Rubella, congenital syndrome                  --       --         --
SARS-CoV ([section]) ****                     --       --         --
Smallpox ([section])                          --       --         --
Streptococcal toxic-shock syndrome
  ([section])                                  1       74          2
Syphilis, congenital (age <1 yr)              --       70          8
Tetanus                                       --        2          1
Toxic-shock syndrome (staphylococcal)
  ([section])                                 --       27          2
Trichinellosis                                 1        4          0
Tularemia                                     --       17          4
Typhoid fever                                  1      161          6
Vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus
  aureus ([section])                          --        4          0
Vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus
  aureus ([section])                          --       --         --
Vibriosis (noncholera Vibrio species
  infections) ([section])                      5       69          2
Yellow fever                                  --       --         --

=======
                                              Total cases reported for
                                                    previous years

Disease                                       2007    2006         2005

Anthrax                                          1       1           --
Botulism:
    foodborne                                   32      20           19
    infant                                      85      97           85
    other (wound & unspecified)                 27      48           31
Brucellosis                                    129     121          120
Chancroid                                       23      33           17
Cholera                                          7       9            8
Cyclosporiasis ([section])                      92     137          543
Diphtheria                                      --      --           --
Domestic arboviral diseases
  ([section]),([paragraph]):
    California serogroup                        53      67           80
    eastern equine                               4       8           21
    Powassan                                     7       1            1
    St. Louis                                    9      10           13
    western equine                              --      --           --
Ehrlichiosis/Anaplasmosis
  ([section]), **:
    Ehrlichia chaffeensis                      827     578          506
    Ehrlichia ewingii                          --      --           --
    Anaplasma phagocytophilum                  834     646          786
    undetermined                               337     231          112
Haemophilus influenzae, ([dagger])
  invasive disease (age <5 yrs):
    serotype b                                  23      29            9
    nonserotype b                              196     175          135
    unknown serotype                           181     179          217
Hansen disease ([section])                     101      66           87
Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome
  ([section])                                   32      40           26
Hemolytic uremic syndrome,
  postdiarrheal ([section])                    292     288          221
Hepatitis C viral, acute                       856     766          652

HIV infection, pediatric (age <13 yrs)
  ([section][section])                          --      --          380
Influenza-associated pediatric mortality
  ([section]),([paragraph][paragraph])          76      43           45
Listeriosis                                    808     884          896
Measles ***                                     43      55           66
Meningococcal disease, invasive
  ([dagger][dagger][dagger]):
    A, C, Y, & W-135                           322     318          297
    serogroup B                                166     193          156
    other serogroup                             34      32           27
    unknown serogroup                          552     651          765
Mumps                                          798   6,584          314
Novel influenza A virus infections               1      N            N
Plague                                           7      17            8
Poliomyelitis, paralytic                        --      --            1
Poliovirus infection, nonparalytic
  ([section])                                   --      N            N
Psittacosis ([section])                         12      21           16
Q fever ([section]),([section]
  [section][section]) total:                  173     169          136
    acute                                       --      --           --
    chronic                                     --      --           --
Rabies, human                                    1       3            2
Rubella ([paragraph][paragraph]
   [paragraph])                                 12      11           11
Rubella, congenital syndrome                    --       1            1
SARS-CoV ([section]) ****                       --      --           --
Smallpox ([section])                            --      --           --
Streptococcal toxic-shock syndrome
  ([section])                                  132     125          129
Syphilis, congenital (age <1 yr)               423     349          329
Tetanus                                         27      41           27
Toxic-shock syndrome (staphylococcal)
  ([section])                                   92     101           90
Trichinellosis                                   5      15           16
Tularemia                                      137      95          154
Typhoid fever                                  437     353          324
Vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus
  aureus ([section])                            28       6            2
Vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus
  aureus ([section])                             2       1            3
Vibriosis (noncholera Vibrio species
  infections) ([section])                      403       N            N
Yellow fever                                    --      --           --

                                              Total cases
                                               reported
                                              for previous
                                                 years

Disease                                       2004    2003

Anthrax                                         --      --
Botulism:
    foodborne                                   16      20
    infant                                      87      76
    other (wound & unspecified)                 30      33
Brucellosis                                    114     104
Chancroid                                       30      54
Cholera                                          6       2
Cyclosporiasis ([section])                     160      75
Diphtheria                                      --       1
Domestic arboviral diseases
  ([section]),([paragraph]):
    California serogroup                       112     108
    eastern equine                               6      14
    Powassan                                     1      --
    St. Louis                                   12      41
    western equine                              --      --
Ehrlichiosis/Anaplasmosis
  ([section]), **:
    Ehrlichia chaffeensis                      338     321
    Ehrlichia ewingii                           --      --
    Anaplasma phagocytophilum                  537     362
    undetermined                                59      44
Haemophilus influenzae, ([dagger])
  invasive disease (age <5 yrs):
    serotype b                                  19      32
    nonserotype b                              135     117
    unknown serotype                           177     227
Hansen disease ([section])                     105      95
Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome
  ([section])                                   24      26
Hemolytic uremic syndrome,
  postdiarrheal ([section])                    200     178
Hepatitis C viral, acute                       720   1,102

HIV infection, pediatric (age <13 yrs)
  ([section][section])                         436     504
Influenza-associated pediatric mortality
  ([section]),([paragraph][paragraph])          --      N
Listeriosis                                    753     696
Measles ***                                     37      56
Meningococcal disease, invasive
  ([dagger][dagger][dagger]):
    A, C, Y, & W-135                            --      --
    serogroup B                                 --      --
    other serogroup                             --      --
    unknown serogroup                           --      --
Mumps                                          258     231
Novel influenza A virus infections               N       N
Plague                                           3       1
Poliomyelitis, paralytic                        --      --
Poliovirus infection, nonparalytic
  ([section])                                    N       N
Psittacosis ([section])                         12      12
Q fever ([section]),([section]
  [section][section]) total:                   70      71
    acute                                       --      --
    chronic                                     --      --
Rabies, human                                    7       2
Rubella ([paragraph][paragraph]
  [paragraph])                                  10       7
Rubella, congenital syndrome                    --       1
SARS-CoV ([section]) ****                       --       8
Smallpox ([section])                            --      --
Streptococcal toxic-shock syndrome
  ([section])                                  132     161
Syphilis, congenital (age <1 yr)               353     413
Tetanus                                         34      20
Toxic-shock syndrome (staphylococcal)
  ([section])                                   95     133
Trichinellosis                                   5       6
Tularemia                                      134     129
Typhoid fever                                  322     356
Vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus
  aureus ([section])                            --       N
Vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus
  aureus ([section])                             1       N
Vibriosis (noncholera Vibrio species
  infections) ([section])                        N       N
Yellow fever                                    --      --

Disease                                    States reporting cases
week (No.)                                 during current

Anthrax
Botulism:
    foodborne
    infant
    other (wound & unspecified)
Brucellosis                                CA (1)
Chancroid
Cholera
Cyclosporiasis ([section])                 FL (4)
Diphtheria
Domestic arboviral diseases
  ([section]),([paragraph]):
    California serogroup
    eastern equine
    Powassan
    St. Louis
    western equine
Ehrlichiosis/Anaplasmosis
  ([section]), **:
    Ehrlichia chaffeensis                  MD (5), VA (1), GA (1), TN
                                             (4), AL (1)
    Ehrlichia ewingii
    Anaplasma phagocytophilum
    undetermined
Haemophilus influenzae, ([dagger])
  invasive disease (age <5 yrs):
    serotype b
    nonserotype b                          OK (1)
    unknown serotype                       PA (1), GA (1), CO (1)
Hansen disease ([section])
Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome
  ([section])
Hemolytic uremic syndrome,
  postdiarrheal ([section])                OH (1), VA (1)
Hepatitis C viral, acute                   NY (2), MI (1), MD (1), VA
                                            (1), NC (5), FL (1),
                                           OK (2), CA (3)
HIV infection, pediatric (age <13 yrs)
  ([section][section])
Influenza-associated pediatric mortality   IL (2), WI (1), VA (1),
  ([section]),([paragraph][paragraph])       NC (1)
Listeriosis                                NY (1), PA (1)
Measles ***
Meningococcal disease, invasive
  ([dagger][dagger][dagger]):
    A, C, Y, & W-135                       TX (1)
    serogroup B
    other serogroup
    unknown serogroup                      PA (2), MD (1), CO (1), CA
                                             (4)
Mumps                                      ID (1), NV (1)
Novel influenza A virus infections
Plague
Poliomyelitis, paralytic
Poliovirus infection, nonparalytic
  ([section])
Psittacosis ([section])
Q fever ([section]),([section]
  [section][section]) total:
    acute                                  NY (1), CO (1)
    chronic
Rabies, human
Rubella ([paragraph])([paragraph])
  ([paragraph])
Rubella, congenital syndrome
SARS-CoV ([section]) ****
Smallpox ([section])
Streptococcal toxic-shock syndrome
  ([section])                              CT (1)
Syphilis, congenital (age <1 yr)
Tetanus
Toxic-shock syndrome (staphylococcal)
  ([section])
Trichinellosis                             FL (1)
Tularemia
Typhoid fever                              ND (1)
Vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus
  aureus ([section])
Vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus
  aureus ([section])
Vibriosis (noncholera Vibrio species
  infections) ([section])                  GA (1), FL (3), CA (1)
Yellow fever

--: No reported cases. N: Not notifiable. Cum: Cumulative year-to-date
counts.

* Incidence data for reporting years 2007 and 2008 are provisional,
whereas data for 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006 are finalized.

([dagger]) Calculated by summing the incidence counts for the current
week, the 2 weeks preceding the current week, and the 2 weeks
following the current week, for a total of 5 preceding years.
Additional information is available at http://www.cdc.gov/epo/dphsi/
phs/files/5yearweeklyaverage.pdf.

([section]) Not notifiable in all states. Data from states where the
condition is not notifiable are excluded from this table, except in
2007 and 2008 for the domestic arboviral diseases and
influenza-associated pediatric mortality, and in 2003 for SARS-CoV.
Reporting exceptions are available at http://www.cdc.gov/epo/dphsi/
phs/infdis.htm.

([paragraph]) Includes both neuroinvasive and nonneuroinvasive.
Updated weekly from reports to the Division of Vector-Borne Infectious
Diseases, National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne, and Enteric
Diseases (ArboNET Surveillance). Data for West Nile virus are
available in Table II.

** The names of the reporting categories changed in 2008 as a result
of revisions to the case definitions. Cases reported prior to 2008
were reported in the categories: Ehrlichiosis, human monocytic
(analogous to E. chaffeensis); Ehrlichiosis, human granulocytic
(analogous to Anaplasma phagocytophilum), and Ehrlichiosis,
unspecified, or other agent (which included cases unable to be clearly
placed in other categories, as well as possible cases of E. ewingii).

([dagger][dagger]) Data for H. influenzae (all ages, all serotypes)
are available in Table II.

([section][section]) Updated monthly from reports to the Division of
HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis,
STD, and TB Prevention. Implementation of HIV reporting
influences the number of cases reported. Updates of pediatric HIV data
have been temporarily suspended until upgrading of the national
HIV/AIDS surveillance data management system is completed. Data for
HIV/AIDS, when available, are displayed in Table IV, which appears
quarterly.

([paragraph][paragraph]) Updated weekly from reports to the
Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory
Diseases. Eighty-four cases occurring during the 2007-08 influenza
season have been reported.

*** No measles cases were reported for the current week.

([dagger][dagger][dagger]) Data for meningococcal disease (all
serogroups) are available in Table II.

([section][section][section]) In 2008, Q fever acute and chronic
reporting categories were recognized as a result of revisions to the Q
fever case definition. Prior to that time, case counts were not
differentiated with respect to acute and chronic Q fever cases.

([paragraph][paragraph][paragraph]) No rubella cases were reported
for the current week.

**** Updated weekly from reports to the Division of Viral and
Rickettsial Diseases, National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne, and
Enteric Diseases.

COPYRIGHT 2008 U.S. Government Printing Office
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning

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CALGARY, June 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Oncolytics Biotech Inc. ("Oncolytics") (TSX:ONC, NASDAQ:ONCY) announced today that following U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review, the Company is initiating a U.S. Phase 2 clinical trial using intravenous administration of REOLYSIN(R) in combination with paclitaxel and carboplatin in patients with advanced head and neck cancers. The Principal Investigator is Dr. Monica Mita of the Cancer Therapy and Research Center, University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, Texas (CTRC at UTHSCSA).

"REOLYSIN(R) is one of the more exciting targeted agents under development in oncology," said Dr. Frank Giles, Director of the Institute for Drug Development. "Our investigators within the CTRC at UTHSCSA are very excited to begin studying potential synergy with standard cytotoxic agents and are eager to expand our studies into other tumor types and utilizing other chemotherapy partner regimens."

This trial is a 14-patient, single arm, open-label, dose-targeted, non-randomized trial of REOLYSIN(R) given intravenously in combination with a standard dosage of paclitaxel and carboplatin.

Eligible patients include those with advanced or metastatic head and neck cancers that are refractory to standard therapy or for which no curative standard therapy exists. The primary objective of the Phase 2 trial is to measure tumour responses and duration of response, and to describe any evidence of antitumour activity. The secondary objective is to determine the safety and tolerability of REOLYSIN(R) when administered in combination with paclitaxel and carboplatin to patients with advanced or metastatic head and neck cancers.

About Oncolytics Biotech Inc.

Oncolytics is a Calgary-based biotechnology company focused on the development of oncolytic viruses as potential cancer therapeutics. Oncolytics’ clinical program includes a variety of Phase 1/2 and Phase 2 human trials using REOLYSIN(R), its proprietary formulation of the human reovirus, alone and in combination with radiation or chemotherapy. For further information about Oncolytics, please visit http://www.oncolyticsbiotech.com/

The Cancer Therapy & Research Center (CTRC) at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio is among the nation’s leading academic research and treatment centers, serving more than 4.4 million people in the high-growth corridor of Central and South Texas including Austin, San Antonio, Laredo and the Rio Grande Valley. CTRC is one of a few elite cancer centers in the country to be named a National Cancer Institute (NCI) Designated Cancer Center, and is one of only three in Texas. CTRC handles more than 120,000 patient visits each year and is a world leader in developing new drugs to treat cancer. The CTRC Institute for Drug Development (IDD) is internationally recognized for conducting the largest oncology Phase I clinical drug trials program in the world, and participated in the clinical and/or preclinical development of many of the cancer drugs approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. For more information, visit our Web site at http://www.ctrc.uthscsa.edu/.

This press release contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements, including the Company’s expectations related to the U.S. Phase 2 combination REOLYSIN(R)/paclitaxel and carboplatin clinical trial, and the Company’s belief as to the potential of REOLYSIN(R) as a cancer therapeutic, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause the Company’s 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 REOLYSIN(R) as a cancer treatment, the tolerability of REOLYSIN(R) outside a controlled test, the success and timely completion of clinical studies and trials, the Company’s ability to successfully commercialize REOLYSIN(R), uncertainties related to the research and development of pharmaceuticals and uncertainties related to the regulatory process. Investors should consult the Company’s 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 to update these forward-looking statements.

CONTACT: Oncolytics Biotech Inc., Cathy Ward, 210, 1167 Kensington Cr NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1X7, Tel: (403) 670-7377, Fax: (403) 283-0858, cathy.ward@oncolytics.ca; The Equicom Group, Nick Hurst, 325, 300 5th Ave. SW, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 3C4, Tel: (403) 538-4845, Fax: (403) 237-6916, nhurst@equicomgroup.com; The Investor Relations Group, Erika Moran, 11 Stone St, 3rd Floor, New York, NY, 10004, Tel: (212) 825-3210, Fax: (212) 825-3229, emoran@investorrelationsgroup.com

COPYRIGHT 2008 PR Newswire Association LLC
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning

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