Oncolytics Pivots to Registration-Focused Trials in Anal, Colorectal Cancers

By Adriano Marchese

Oncolytics Biotech said it will now focus on registrational and registration-enabling studies in squamous cell anal cancer and metastatic colorectal cancer after concluding enrollment in its Goblet study.

The clinical-stage immunotherapy company said it has elected to stop further patient enrollment for its Goblet Cohort 5 study. It said the current enrollment in the study will allow responses to therapy, including overall survival, to be analyzed.

Goblet--which stands for gastrointestinal tumors exploring the treatment combinations with the oncolytic reovirus pelareorep and anti-PD-L1--is a phase 1/2 multiple-indication study in advanced or metastatic gastrointestinal tumors.

Squamous cell anal cancer is a rare anal tumor that starts in the squamous cells lining the anal canal, while metastatic colorectal cancer is a form of cancer that can spread to other organs.

"The company is planning to move quickly to pursue regulatory approval through a U.S.-based study to ensure the enrollment of patients representative of the current standard of care," it said Tuesday.

The company is now is shifting the program toward the trials needed to support a future regulatory filing and expects to meet with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in mid-April, it said.

Write to Adriano Marchese at adriano.marchese@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 24, 2026 09:54 ET (14:54 GMT)