ex99.htm

210, 1167 Kensington Cr. N.W

Calgary, Alberta

Canada T2N 1X7

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Oncolytics Biotech® Inc. Announces Details of 2009 Annual Shareholder Meeting

CALGARY, AB, --- April 30, 2009 --- Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (TSX: ONC, NASDAQ: ONCY) announced today that its 2009 Annual and Special Meeting of the Shareholders will be held on Tuesday, May 5, 2009 at 2:30 p.m. (MT) at the Telus World of Science, 701-11 Street SW, Calgary.

Following the business portion of the meeting, Dr. Brad Thompson, President and CEO of Oncolytics, will discuss recent progress in developing REOLYSIN® as a potential cancer therapeutic.

A live audio webcast of the presentation will begin at approximately 2:45 p.m. (MT) at: http://www.newswire.ca/en/webcast/viewEvent.cgi?eventID=2632960 or on the company’s website at www.oncolyticsbiotech.com. It is recommended that listeners log on 15 minutes in advance of the presentation to register and download any necessary software.

An audio replay will be accessible following the presentation at www.oncolyticsbiotech.com.

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 I/II and Phase II human trials using REOLYSIN, its proprietary formulation of the human reovirus, alone and in combination with radiation or chemotherapy. For further information about Oncolytics, please visit www.oncolyticsbiotech.com

The presentation time is subject to change. This release and the presentation related thereto contain forward-looking statements which involve known and unknown risks, delays, uncertainties and other factors not under the Company’s control and which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from the results, performance or expectations implied by these forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the efficacy of REOLYSIN as a cancer treatment, the success and timely completion of clinical studies and trials, uncertainties related to the research and development of pharmaceuticals, uncertainties related to the regulatory process and general changes to the economic environment. 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 except as required by applicable laws.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE 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

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