After Brain Cancer Data, Candel Therapeutics' Shares Good News From Pancreatic Cancer Study

Thursday, Candel Therapeutics Inc CADL released updated interim survival data from the ongoing phase 2 trial of CAN-2409 plus valacyclovir (prodrug), together with standard of care (SoC) chemoradiation, followed by resection for borderline resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. 

Survival data were updated with eight months of further follow-up since the first analysis was presented at the 2023 Society for Immunotherapy Annual Meeting. 

Also Read: Micro-Cap Cancer Focused Candel Therapeutics Highlights Encouraging Data From Brain Tumor Immunotherapy.

Data Highlights as of March 29, 2024, Data Cut-off, Include:

Prolonged and sustained survival was observed after experimental treatment with CAN-2409 in patients with borderline resectable PDAC (n=13).

 The estimated median overall survival was 28.8 months in the CAN-2409 group versus only 12.5 months in the control group.

 At 24 months, a survival rate of 71.4% was observed in CAN-2409 treated patients after SoC chemoradiation and before surgery, versus only 16.7% in the control group. 

 At 36 months, a survival rate of 47.6% was estimated in patients who received CAN-2409, together with SoC chemoradiation before surgery, versus only 16.7% in the control group.

 4 out of 7 patients who received CAN-2409 were still alive at the time of data cut-off, with two patients surviving more than 50.0 months from enrollment. 

 Only 1 out of 6 patients, randomized to control SoC chemotherapy, remained alive at data cut-off (alive at 50.6 months).

 Previous analysis of blood and resected tumors showed consistent and robust activation of the immune response after experimental treatment with CAN-2409.

 In pancreatic tissue of patients treated with CAN-2409 plus prodrug and SoC, dense aggregates of CD8+ granzyme B positive cytotoxic tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, dendritic cells, and B cells were observed.

 CAN-2409 continued to be associated with a favorable safety/tolerability profile.

 The addition of the CAN-2409 regimen to SoC was generally well tolerated, with no dose-limiting toxicities, including no cases of pancreatitis.

Price Action: CADL shares are up 31.70% at $2.21 on the last check Thursday.

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