Oncolytics Biotech Advances Pelareorep for Anal Cancer with 29% Response Rate
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 12 2026
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Should l Buy ONCY?
Source: PRnewswire
- Clinical Data Breakthrough: Oncolytics Biotech's pelareorep demonstrated a 29% objective response rate in anal cancer during the GOBLET Cohort 4, significantly exceeding the historical benchmark of 10%, indicating its crucial clinical value in a setting with no FDA-approved treatment options.
- Duration of Response: Among 14 evaluable patients, the median duration of response for pelareorep reached approximately 17 months, far surpassing the standard treatment's 9.5 months, showcasing the drug's durable efficacy in heavily pretreated patients and addressing a critical unmet medical need.
- FDA Accelerated Approval Plans: Oncolytics plans to hold a Type C meeting with the FDA in Q1 2026 to discuss advancing pelareorep into a registration-directed clinical study, paving the way for potential accelerated approval if the data is validated.
- Strategic Investment and Expert Support: The company expanded its Scientific Advisory Board by adding three globally recognized experts from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and MD Anderson Cancer Center, further strengthening its strategic positioning in the gastrointestinal oncology field.
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Analyst Views on ONCY
Wall Street analysts forecast ONCY stock price to rise
6 Analyst Rating
5 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 0.977
Low
3.00
Averages
5.50
High
10.00
Current: 0.977
Low
3.00
Averages
5.50
High
10.00
About ONCY
Oncolytics Biotech Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing pelareorep, an intravenously delivered immunotherapeutic agent that activates the innate and adaptive immune systems and weakens tumor defense mechanisms. This improves the ability of the immune system to fight cancer, making tumors more susceptible to a broad range of oncology treatments. 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. The Company is also advancing its programs in hormone receptor-positive / human epidermal growth factor 2-negative (HR+/ HER2-) advanced and metastatic breast cancer (mBC) and metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) to registration-enabled clinical studies. In addition, it is exploring opportunities for registrational programs in other gastrointestinal cancers through its GOBLET platform study.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- Surge in Clinical Trials: Over 2,100 oncology clinical trials were initiated globally in 2024, with targeted therapies being the fastest-growing subsegment, indicating a strong demand for new treatments that could enhance market share for involved companies.
- FDA Fast Track Designation: Oncolytics Biotech's cancer treatment pelareorep received Fast Track Designation from the FDA, based on a 33% response rate in KRAS-mutant microsatellite-stable metastatic colorectal cancer patients, significantly higher than existing therapies, suggesting a faster approval timeline.
- Significant Survival Extension: In clinical trials, patients treated with pelareorep had a median survival of 27 months compared to 11.2 months with standard treatment, highlighting the drug's potential market value of up to $5 billion in a challenging cancer segment.
- Leadership Team Expansion: Oncolytics Biotech recently appointed two executives, John McAdory as EVP of Strategy and Operations and Yujun Wu as VP of Biostatistics, reflecting the company's commitment to expanding its clinical development efforts and enhancing operational capabilities.
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- Clinical Trial Surge: In 2024, over 2,100 oncology clinical trials were initiated globally, with targeted therapies being the fastest-growing subsegment, indicating a strong demand for new treatments that could enhance market share for involved companies.
- FDA Fast Track Designation: Oncolytics Biotech's cancer treatment pelareorep received Fast Track Designation from the FDA, based on a 33% response rate in KRAS-mutant microsatellite-stable metastatic colorectal cancer patients, significantly higher than the 10% response rate of standard treatments, which will expedite its approval process.
- Significant Survival Extension: Patients treated with pelareorep had a median survival of 27 months compared to 11.2 months with standard treatment, suggesting a potential market value of $3 billion to $5 billion for this difficult-to-treat cancer population.
- Leadership Team Expansion: Oncolytics Biotech recently appointed two executives to support its expansion plans, John McAdory as EVP of Strategy and Operations and Yujun Wu as VP of Biostatistics, demonstrating the company's commitment to advancing its clinical development initiatives.
See More
- Clinical Trial Surge: Over 2,100 oncology clinical trials were initiated globally in 2024, with targeted therapies being the fastest-growing subsegment, indicating a strong demand for new treatments that could enhance market share for involved companies.
- FDA Fast Track Designation: Oncolytics Biotech's cancer treatment pelareorep received Fast Track Designation from the FDA based on a 33% response rate in KRAS-mutant microsatellite-stable metastatic colorectal cancer patients, significantly higher than existing therapies, suggesting a faster approval timeline.
- Significant Survival Extension: In clinical trials, patients treated with pelareorep had a median survival of 27 months compared to 11.2 months with standard treatment, indicating a potential market value of $3 billion to $5 billion for this hard-to-treat cancer population.
- Leadership Team Expansion: Oncolytics Biotech recently appointed two executives to support its expanding programs, demonstrating the company's commitment to accelerating product development and enhancing management capabilities for future clinical trials.
See More
- Clinical Survival Rate Improvement: A January 2026 analysis confirmed that drugs approved through the FDA's accelerated pathway improved progression-free survival in 65% of solid tumor indications, demonstrating significant clinical efficacy and driving clinical-stage oncology companies toward registration-directed study designs in high-unmet-need tumor types.
- Fast Track Designation: Oncolytics Biotech's cancer treatment pelareorep received FDA Fast Track designation for KRAS-mutant microsatellite-stable metastatic colorectal cancer patients, achieving a 33% response rate in combination with standard chemotherapy, significantly higher than the 10% response rate with standard treatment, and a median survival of 27 months compared to 11.2 months with standard care.
- Substantial Market Potential: The second-line treatment market for KRAS-mutant microsatellite-stable colorectal cancer patients is estimated to be between $3 billion and $5 billion annually, with Oncolytics Biotech planning a controlled study to compare standard care versus standard care plus pelareorep, further validating its therapeutic advantage in this high-demand area.
- Team Expansion and Strategic Positioning: Oncolytics Biotech recently appointed two key executives to support its expansion plans, with CEO Jared Kelly emphasizing that the success of pelareorep in clinical trials will present significant market opportunities, particularly in cancer areas lacking effective treatment options.
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- FDA Fast Track Designation: Oncolytics Biotech's cancer treatment pelareorep has received Fast Track Designation from the FDA for KRAS-mutant microsatellite-stable metastatic colorectal cancer, which is expected to expedite the approval process and enhance market competitiveness.
- Clinical Data Advantage: The 33% response rate of pelareorep combined with standard chemotherapy significantly surpasses the 10% rate of chemotherapy alone, with a median survival of 27 months, indicating its potential value in hard-to-treat cancer populations.
- Significant Market Opportunity: The annual revenue for second-line treatment of KRAS-mutant colorectal cancer ranges between $3 billion and $5 billion, positioning Oncolytics' innovative therapy to capture a substantial share in this rapidly growing market.
- Team Expansion and Strategic Positioning: Oncolytics Biotech has recently appointed two executives to support its expansion plans, demonstrating the company's commitment to future clinical trials and market outreach, thereby strengthening its leadership position in the biotech sector.
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- FDA Acceleration: Oncolytics Biotech's cancer treatment pelareorep has received Fast Track Designation from the FDA for KRAS-mutant microsatellite-stable metastatic colorectal cancer patients, demonstrating a 33% response rate significantly higher than the 10% seen with traditional chemotherapy, which will expedite its approval process and enhance market competitiveness.
- Survival Extension: Clinical data shows that patients treated with pelareorep have a median survival of 27 months compared to 11.2 months with standard treatment, indicating the drug's potential market value in hard-to-treat cancer populations, with the global second-line treatment market estimated between $3 billion and $5 billion annually.
- Leadership Team Expansion: Oncolytics Biotech recently appointed John McAdory as Executive Vice President of Strategy and Operations and Yujun Wu as Vice President of Biostatistics to manage expanding clinical programs, reflecting the company's commitment to future growth and readiness.
- Clinical Trial Plans: The company plans to launch a controlled study in March 2026 comparing standard treatment with pelareorep, with interim data expected by year-end, further validating its efficacy in colorectal cancer treatment.
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