Calidi Biotherapeutics Shares Data on RTNova System for Metastatic Lung Cancer

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 18, 2024 — Calidi Biotherapeutics Inc., a biotechnology firm in the clinical stage, showcased promising data at the International Oncolytic Virotherapy Conference (IOVC) and the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Annual Meeting. The data underscored the targeted capabilities of Calidi’s proprietary RTNova™ systemic enveloped virotherapy technology. RTNova shows potential in addressing metastatic sites across various oncology indications, including advanced lung cancer.

RTNova is engineered to tackle significant obstacles in systemic virotherapy, such as rapid immune clearance and limited therapeutic targeting. By incorporating enveloped technology into its tumor-selective vaccinia virus platform, RTNova can potentially target multiple metastatic tumor sites, offering a chance to kill and transform various tumor microenvironments throughout the body. Calidi's enveloped virotherapies have shown robust therapeutic potential both as standalone treatments and as viral vectors, which could allow for future delivery of therapeutic gene or medicine payloads to all tumor sites.

Dr. Santidrian, Chief Scientific Officer of Calidi Biotherapeutics, emphasized the significance of the data presented at IOVC and SITC. “The results demonstrate the robust therapeutic potential of our RTNova technology in an advanced lung metastasis model,” he stated. He noted that these findings represent a substantial advancement in developing systemic antitumor virotherapy for advanced disease stages. These stages remain a leading cause of cancer-related deaths. The data also indicate that once the virus reaches the tumors or metastases, it effectively kills and transforms tumor microenvironments and can induce expression of engineered payloads within tumor cells. Dr. Santidrian believes RTNova could revolutionize the treatment of previously untreatable metastatic diseases.

RTNova employs a novel, tumor-selective strain of vaccinia virus designed to produce high levels of extracellular enveloped viruses (EEVs). These EEVs integrate human cell-derived proteins, enabling the targeting of tumor sites while avoiding rapid clearance by the host immune system. This enhancement extends RTNova’s utility, making it a versatile platform for both direct antitumor treatment and as a viral vector for customized cancer therapies. The data presented will also support potential collaborations with pharmaceutical partners.

Calidi Biotherapeutics continues to advance its clinical-stage, off-the-shelf virotherapies. With RTNova, the company is developing multi-modal systemic antitumor virotherapies aimed at disrupting tumor growth, reprogramming the tumor immune microenvironment, and achieving durable therapeutic outcomes for a broader patient population.

About Calidi Biotherapeutics

Calidi Biotherapeutics is a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company with innovative technology designed to empower the immune system to combat cancer. The company’s novel platforms utilize potent allogeneic stem cells capable of carrying oncolytic viruses to various oncology indications, including high-grade gliomas and solid tumors. Calidi’s clinical stage off-the-shelf, universal cell-based delivery platforms are designed to protect, amplify, and potentiate oncolytic viruses, enhancing efficacy and improving patient safety. The company’s preclinical enveloped virotherapies aim to target disseminated solid tumors, potentially treating or even preventing metastatic disease. Calidi Biotherapeutics is headquartered in San Diego, California.