1. Cancer rates in Americans under 50 are escalating significantly. 2. Oncolytics appointed Jared Kelly as CEO, focused on pelareorep's development. 3. Pelareorep shows strong response rates in difficult cancer types. 4. Funding cuts for NCI may shift oncology advancements to private sector. 5. Global oncology market projected to grow significantly by 2034.
Jared Kelly's leadership and pelareorep's promising data could drive investor interest. Historical examples show that leadership changes often lead to market confidence.
The article outlines major leadership changes at Oncolytics and significant clinical progress, both of which are likely to influence investor sentiment and market performance.
Positive clinical data and leadership developments will take time to reflect in stock price. For instance, similar biotech firms saw gradual stock appreciation post significant leadership shifts.
Issued on behalf of Oncolytics Biotech Inc.
VANCOUVER, BC, June 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- USA News Group News Commentary – According to a recent report in Newsweek, more Americans younger than 50 are getting cancer. In fact, the report cites a recent study from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which found that between 2010 and 2019, more than 2 million Americans aged 15 to 49 were diagnosed with cancer, with early-onset cases rising significantly in 14 different cancer types, including breast, colorectal, and kidney cancers. The dire statistics from the study come at a time where Bloomberg has recently reported on the skyrocketing costs of cancer drugs, and their lack of life-extension successes. That said, with the recent close of the world's largest cancer conference (the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting), doctors, scientists, and researchers remain optimistic. For investors to note, oncology innovators have provided recent developments to pay attention to, including Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (NASDAQ: ONCY) (TSX: ONC), Galectin Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: GALT), ProPhase Labs, Inc. (NASDAQ: PRPH), CG Oncology, Inc. (NASDAQ: CGON), and Perspective Therapeutics, Inc. (NYSE-American: CATX).
With reports coming out that the current US administration could drastically reduce funding of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) by nearly 40%, the market is looking towards the private sector to pick up the slack and continue to make advancements in cancer treatment. According to analysts at ResearchAndMarkets, the global oncology market is projected to reach US$866.1 billion by 2034, rising at a 10.8% CAGR, while Vision Research Reports projects the global oncology market to surpass US$903.81 billion by 2034, at a 10.9% CAGR.
Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (NASDAQ: ONCY) (TSX: ONC) just announced a major leadership transition that could mark a pivotal chapter in its clinical and corporate trajectory. The company has appointed Jared Kelly as Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board, a move that brings in a seasoned biotech dealmaker known for high-value M&A and immuno-oncology strategy.
Kelly most recently played a central role (as General Counsel) in the $2 billion sale of Ambrx Biopharma to Johnson & Johnson. Prior to that, he advised numerous biotech firms on licensing and acquisitions during his tenure at leading law firms Kirkland & Ellis LLP and Lowenstein Sandler LLP. In joining Oncolytics, he inherits one of the most intriguing immunotherapy agents and pipelines in clinical oncology: pelareorep, a virus-based agent with broad synergy potential in solid and hematologic tumors.
"Pelareorep's clinical data across multiple tumors is striking and represents the potential for a true backbone immunotherapy to address many in-need indications. Importantly, the data show that pelareorep creates a robust immunologic response in difficult tumors and increases survival in a patient population where survival has historically evaded most patients," said Jared Kelly, CEO of Oncolytics Biotech. "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. I am excited to get to work accelerating development and unlocking significant value for stakeholders."
Kelly's appointment signals a clear priority: advancing pelareorep toward late-stage inflection points with a capital-efficient and partnership-aware strategy.
The asset currently holds FDA Fast Track designation in both metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC) and HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer (mBC)—a rare distinction that reinforces its regulatory momentum. In trials to date, pelareorep has consistently demonstrated immune activation, synergy with chemotherapies and checkpoint inhibitors, and unusually strong response rates across difficult-to-treat cancers.
In metastatic pancreatic cancer (mPDAC), pelareorep has delivered over 60% objective response rates in tumor evaluable patients across Phase 1 and 2 studies—more than double those observed in historical controls—and, separately, two-year survival rates 4-6 times those observed in control patients or in prior studies. In HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer, two randomized Phase 2 trials (IND-213 and BRACELET-1) showed meaningful survival benefit.
And in anal cancer, early data from a phase 2 cohort combining pelareorep with a checkpoint inhibitor showed partial or complete responses in nearly half of evaluable patients—far exceeding historical norms for monotherapy.
"Mr. Kelly's vision and track record is an extraordinary fit with the standout clinical data pelareorep has generated to date," said Wayne Pisano, Chair of the Board and outgoing Interim CEO of Oncolytics. "We believe Mr. Kelly's well-documented ability to prioritize clinical program development, execute successful financings, and attract the attention of large industry peers will help maximize Oncolytics' potential to deliver transformative outcomes for patients and exceptional value for investors."
To align incentives with long-term shareholder value, Kelly's compensation package includes equity and milestone-based awards tied to future strategic transactions and financings. The structure reflects Oncolytics' intention to drive both clinical and corporate progress without overextending its cap table—while remaining attractive to potential collaborators.
As multiple programs advance within the GOBLET study—including pancreatic and anal cancer cohorts backed by regulatory support and third-party funding—Oncolytics appears poised to benefit from a combination of scientific traction, capital flexibility, and strategic leadership.
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Source: USA News Group
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