The Future of Immunotherapy: An Interview with Dr. Tak

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.”