On June 22, 2020 Calidi Biotherapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company at the forefront of oncolytic virus-based immunotherapies for cancer, reported that data from clinical studies on their oncolytic agent, CAL1 vaccinia virus, and stem cell delivery system will be presented at the upcoming American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting II, which will be held in virtual format June 22 through June 24, 2020, due to COVID-19 concerns (Press release, Calidi Biotherapeutics, JUN 22, 2020, View Source [SID1234561345]).
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Calidi’s respective e-poster presentations will highlight findings from translational research on the potential use of the CAL1 vaccinia virus, a version of the ACAM2000 smallpox vaccine delivered via an allogeneic adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) system, as well as insights from clinical trials analyzing the potential use of Calidi’s autologous SVF delivery platform to modulate innate and adaptive immunity in patients with solid tumors and hematological malignancies.
CAL1 was evaluated for abilities to safely replicate and selectively kill cancer cells, to be genetically modified (generating next generation armed-oncolytic viruses) without affecting its natural tumor selectivity, and to determine if its anti-tumor effects can be enhanced and protected from inactivation by immune system response when delivered via Calidi’s off-the-shelf MSC platform. The modified vaccinia virus strain demonstrated efficacy as an oncolytic agent, exhibiting heightened therapeutic capacity when loaded into adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells to create Calidi’s SuperNova (SNV) product.
Calidi’s study on the immunomodulatory potential of vaccinia virus delivered by autologous SVF-derived cells expanded on their recent first-in-human Phase I clinical trial, which confirmed the safety and feasibility of their approach for improving virus delivery and tumor targeting. This study establishes a timeline of treatment-related immunological changes, identifies potential immunological correlations with continued amplified oncolytic therapy, and provides insights into the role of interpatient immunological variability and future oncolytic virotherapy evaluation.
Both abstracts indicate significant advantages and fundamental rationale for the development of vehicles like Calidi’s cell-based delivery platform (View Source), designed to protect and potentiate oncolytic viruses by circumventing innate and adaptive immune barriers, resulting in enhanced oncolytic virotherapy.
AACR presentation details are as follows:
Abstract 6542: CAL1 vaccinia virus as oncolytic agent and potential use of cell-based platform to enhance its therapeutic effects
Date: June 22, 2020, from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Abstract 4473: Evaluation of the potential of oncolytic vaccinia virus delivered by autologous SVF to modulate innate and adaptive immunity in patients with diverse solid and hematological malignancies
Date: June 22, 2020, from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM