Calidi announces ability to deliver transient gene therapy to tumors

Calidi (CLDI) Biotherapeutics announced promising preclinical results for its systemic RTNova platform. The platform has successfully delivered transient gene therapy payloads to targeted tumors. Additionally, Calidi’s tumor-specific virotherapy has demonstrated efficacy in killing over 60 different tumor cell lines. The RTNova platform addresses the challenges of treating advanced-stage metastatic cancers, including lung cancer, when intratumoral administration is not feasible. Calidi designed an innovative vaccinia virus strain enveloped with a human cell membrane, providing protection in the bloodstream while targeting distant tumors. Once inside the tumor, virotherapies are designed to selectively replicate and destroy tumor cells. This process induces an immune response, training the immune system to recognize and target future cancer cells. Additionally, the platform’s ability to target distant tumors allows it to act as a viral vector, delivering specific gene therapies directly to tumor sites.