SAN DIEGO and CALGARY, AB - Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (NASDAQ: NASDAQ:ONCY) (TSX: ONC), a biotechnology firm focused on the development of immunotherapeutics for cancer, announced today that its President and Chief Executive Officer, Matt Coffey, PhD, will take an immediate medical leave of absence. Wayne Pisano, the current Chair of Oncolytics' Board of Directors, will assume the role of interim CEO during Dr. Coffey's leave.
The company expressed its wishes for Dr. Coffey's swift recovery and confidence in its executive team's ability to continue progressing towards strategic goals, particularly the advancement of pelareorep. This immunotherapeutic agent is being developed for the treatment of breast and pancreatic cancers and is moving towards a registration-enabling study for pancreatic cancer.
Wayne Pisano brings a wealth of experience to his interim role, with over three decades in the pharmaceutical industry and significant tenure in biotech. He has previously held the position of President and CEO of Sanofi (NASDAQ:SNY) Pasteur, a major vaccine company, and has served on the boards of various biotech firms. His leadership at Sanofi Pasteur was marked by a strong focus on influenza vaccines and the expansion of pediatric vaccine strategies.
Pelareorep, Oncolytics' investigative drug, is designed to induce anti-cancer immune responses and convert "cold" tumors into "hot" ones, making them more susceptible to immune system attack. The therapy has shown promise in Phase 2 studies for metastatic breast cancer and Phase 1 and 2 studies for pancreatic cancer.
Oncolytics Biotech continues to prepare for the release of overall survival data from its BRACELET-1 breast cancer study, which is expected in the second half of 2024. The company maintains its commitment to bringing pelareorep to patients, supported by Fast Track designations from the FDA for its breast and pancreatic cancer programs.
This news is based on a press release statement from Oncolytics Biotech Inc.
InvestingPro Insights
As Oncolytics Biotech Inc. adapts to leadership changes with interim CEO Wayne Pisano at the helm, investors and stakeholders are closely monitoring the company's financial health and market performance. In light of the company's focus on developing its flagship immunotherapeutic agent, pelareorep, it's important to consider key financial metrics and expert analysis provided by InvestingPro.
InvestingPro data indicates that Oncolytics Biotech has a market capitalization of $10.26 million USD, reflecting its current valuation in the market. Despite challenges, the company shows a strong liquidity position, with liquid assets that exceed its short-term obligations. This is critical for the company as it continues to fund its research and development activities, especially considering that the company is quickly burning through cash, as highlighted by one of the InvestingPro Tips.
Another InvestingPro Tip suggests that analysts do not anticipate Oncolytics Biotech will be profitable this year, which aligns with the company's reported negative operating income margin of -95.14% for the last twelve months as of Q2 2024. Additionally, the company's gross profit margin stands at 63.34%, which may seem robust, but is undermined by the company's current cash burn rate and lack of profitability over the past year.
Investors should note that Oncolytics does not pay a dividend, which is typical for many biotech firms that reinvest earnings back into research and development. For those looking to dive deeper into Oncolytics Biotech's financials and future prospects, InvestingPro offers additional tips and insights. Use the coupon code PRONEWS24 to get an additional 10% off a yearly or biyearly Pro and Pro+ subscription and gain access to the full suite of expert analysis and tips, which currently includes six more valuable insights for ONC.
As the company prepares for the release of its BRACELET-1 breast cancer study data and continues to advance pelareorep in clinical trials, these InvestingPro Insights can help investors make informed decisions about the potential risks and opportunities associated with Oncolytics Biotech.
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