The $185B Cancer Surge: Why the FDA’s Fast-Track Pivot is Scaling a New Immunotherapy Era

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Issued on behalf of Oncolytics Biotech Inc.

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — USANewsGroup.com News Commentary – The global immuno-oncology market is set to explode from its current $35 billion level to a massive $185.69 billion by 2035 as the industry moves toward the coordinated activation of the immune system^[1]. This surge is being accelerated by the $69.16 billion genomics revolution, which is now integrating advanced profiling into every oncology workflow to pick winning treatments^[2]. This strategic push for registration-ready precision assets fuels the 2026 investment case for Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (NASDAQ: ONCY), ImmunityBio (NASDAQ: IBRX), OS Therapies (NYSE-A: OSTX), BioNTech SE (NASDAQ: BNTX), and Compass Therapeutics (NASDAQ: CMPX).

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Capital is flooding the sector, with the precision medicine market projected to hit $537.17 billion by 2035 as investors chase targeted therapeutic platforms^[3]. Current FDA accelerated approval frameworks are proving to be a massive catalyst, delivering survival gains across 65% of solid tumor studies and fast-tracking response-heavy drugs for commercialization^[4]. For retail investors, the narrative is clear: the race to cure rare and resistant cancers is being redefined by clinical speed and regulatory alignment.

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Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (NASDAQ: ONCY) is strengthening its operational and statistical leadership as it advances pelareorep toward multiple registration-directed programs in gastrointestinal cancers.

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The company recently announced the appointments of John McAdory as Executive Vice President of Strategy and Operations and Yujun Wu as Vice President, Head of Biostatistics, bringing deep expertise in late-stage oncology trial execution and regulatory strategy.

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McAdory joins from CG Oncology, where he served as Vice President of Clinical Operations, leading late-stage development programs for oncolytic virus therapies. Wu arrives from Morphic Therapeutics, where he headed Biostatistics through the company’s acquisition by Eli Lilly, and previously led statistical strategy for multiple Phase 3 oncology programs at Takeda. Both executives bring direct experience navigating complex registration trials and global regulatory interactions.

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“John’s background running complex, late-stage oncology trials makes him exceptionally well-suited to lead Oncolytics’ next phase of execution,” said Jared Kelly, CEO of Oncolytics Biotech. “As we progress toward pivotal and registration-enabling studies in anal, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers, his experience will be critical to ensuring disciplined execution, speed, and regulatory alignment.”

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These appointments complete a transformative executive team buildout following Kelly’s promotion to CEO last year and the addition of Chief Business Officer Andrew Aromando. They were both crucial contributors to Ambrx Biopharma’s
$2 billion acquisition by Johnson & Johnson. Oncolytics also recently expanded its Scientific Advisory Board with globally recognized experts from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and MD Anderson Cancer Center, positioning the company for accelerated clinical development across multiple indications.

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The strategic focus is advancing pelareorep toward potential accelerated approval in anal cancer after reporting third-line data that achieved a 29% objective response rate—nearly tripling historical benchmarks in a setting with no FDA-approved treatment options.