Month: February 2024

Breaking Boundaries in Cancer Care: Candel Therapeutics’ Bold Vision for Viral Immunotherapy

In a fascinating conversation with Healthcare Future, Dr. Paul-Peter Tak, CEO of Candel Therapeutics, opened up about the company’s groundbreaking approach to fighting cancer, one that centers around the use of viral immunotherapies to stimulate the body’s own immune system to target and destroy tumours.

At the heart of Candel’s mission is the development of off-the-shelf viral therapies that are locally administered but designed to have systemic immune effects. These therapies are engineered from adenovirus and herpes simplex virus (HSV) platforms, each offering unique advantages for targeting various types of cancers.

A Spotlight on CAN-2409: Leading the Charge

Much of the discussion revolved around CAN-2409, Candel’s most advanced product candidate. This gene therapy uses an adenovirus to deliver HSV-thymidine kinase directly into the tumor. When combined with the antiviral drug valacyclovir, it triggers a form of localized tumour cell death that also alerts the immune system to attack the cancer, essentially turning the tumour into its own vaccine.

Dr. Tak shared encouraging data from multiple studies, including results in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and pancreatic cancer, where patients had already failed other therapies like checkpoint inhibitors. Remarkably, NSCLC patients receiving CAN-2409 lived nearly twice as long as those in historical control groups, 20.6 months versus 11.6 months.

Expanding the Pipeline: Prostate Cancer and Glioma

Candel is also pursuing other indications with CAN-2409, including prostate cancer, where the therapy is currently in a Phase 2b/3 trial, and pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest and most difficult cancers to treat.

In parallel, another candidate, CAN-3110, is showing early promise in glioblastoma and other solid tumours. Based on HSV and designed for selective replication in cancer cells, CAN-3110 has shown a favourable safety profile and the potential for durable immune activation.

Looking ahead: Regulatory Momentum and Strategic Focus

Candel’s therapies have garnered multiple FDA designations, including Fast Track and Orphan Drug status, validating the potential of their approach in underserved cancer types.

As Dr. Tak explained, the company is laser-focused on data-driven development, with upcoming readouts expected in key trials over the next 12–18 months. These milestones will help shape the future trajectory of the platform and provide further evidence of its utility in real-world clinical settings.

Final Thoughts

Candel Therapeutics is betting big on the immune system, and viral vectors, to do what traditional therapies have struggled to achieve: long-lasting responses in patients with aggressive cancers. With a robust pipeline, encouraging clinical data, and a scalable therapeutic model, the company is positioning itself as a leader in the next wave of oncology innovation.

As Dr. Tak put it, “We’re not just treating tumours, we’re retraining the immune system to fight cancer more intelligently and effectively.”

The BioHub – The Avetix Podcast – Episode 5 – Paul Peter Tak (youtube.com)

Summary

Dr. Paul Peter Tak, CEO and President of Candel Therapeutics, shares insights into his extensive career trajectory spanning academia, big pharma, biotech, and venture capital. He reflects on groundbreaking immunotherapy projects that shaped his professional journey, particularly the advent of TNF inhibitors in rheumatology and the current transformative potential of viral and multimodal immunotherapies in oncology.

Dr. Tak highlights Candel’s innovative platforms, including clinical trials targeting difficult-to-treat cancers like non-small cell lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, glioblastoma, and early localized prostate cancer, emphasizing their unique viral-based immunotherapy approaches. He illustrates the company’s strategic approach to drug discovery, focusing on human biology, artificial intelligence, and the versatile use of herpes simplex virus vectors to deliver targeted gene therapies.

Despite recent workforce reductions driven by economic challenges, Dr. Tak remains optimistic about Condel’s future, underscoring a rigorous data-driven strategy, strong collaborations with scientific leaders, and a commitment to long-term value creation. He contrasts the agility and pressures of biotech with big pharma, emphasizing Condel’s streamlined governance and culture of innovation.

Finally, he shares personal philosophies on leadership, resilience, and career development, advocating for intuition, collaboration, and maintaining a balance between professional dedication and personal well-being.