Calidi Biotherapeutics presented promising preclinical data, received FDA designation, and secured $4.6 million in funding.
Quiver AI Summary
Calidi Biotherapeutics Inc. presented promising preclinical data on its lead candidate, CLD-401, at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), highlighting its ability to deliver IL-15 superagonists to metastatic tumor sites while minimizing immune clearance. The company anticipates filing an Investigational New Drug (IND) application by the end of 2026. Additionally, Calidi received Fast Track Designation from the FDA for CLD-201, a novel stem cell-loaded intratumoral viral therapy aimed at soft tissue sarcoma. In a recent funding round, Calidi raised $4.6 million, bolstering its financial position amid a tough biotech financing climate. For the second quarter of 2025, the company reported a net loss of $5.7 million but showed reduced expenses compared to the previous year, maintaining a cash balance of approximately $5.3 million.
Potential Positives
- Presented preclinical data at ASCO demonstrating the biological efficacy of CLD-401, which could advance its development in treating metastatic tumors.
- Received FDA Fast Track Designation for CLD-201, positioning the therapy favorably in the regulatory landscape for treating soft tissue sarcoma.
- Raised $4.6 million through a warrant inducement offering, enhancing the company’s financial position and extending its operational runway in a challenging biotech financing environment.
Potential Negatives
- Calidi reported a significant net loss of $5.7 million for the second quarter of 2025, indicating ongoing financial challenges.
- The company’s cash reserves decreased from $9.6 million to $5.3 million compared to the previous reporting period, raising concerns about liquidity and operational sustainability.
- Despite raising $4.6 million in a warrant inducement offering, the overall financial climate for biotech firms remains challenging, which may hinder future financing efforts.
FAQ
What are the key updates from Calidi Biotherapeutics' recent ASCO presentation?
Calidi presented data on CLD-401, showcasing its efficacy in targeting metastatic tumor sites through IL-15 superagonist delivery.
What is the significance of the FDA's Fast Track Designation for CLD-201?
The designation accelerates development for CLD-201, an innovative stem-cell loaded viral therapy for soft tissue sarcoma patients.
How much funding did Calidi Biotherapeutics successfully raise recently?
Calidi raised $4.6 million through a warrant inducement offering, enhancing its financial stability amidst industry challenges.
What are the reported financial results for the second quarter of 2025?
Calidi reported a net loss of $5.7 million and total operating expenses decreasing compared to the same period in 2024.
What is the focus of Calidi Biotherapeutics' RedTail platform?
The RedTail platform aims to develop oncolytic virus therapies that effectively deliver genetic medicines to challenging metastatic sites.
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Full Release
- Presented preclinical data at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) on CLD-401 demonstrating biological efficacy IL-15 superagonist delivery to metastatic tumor sites and reduced immune clearance through engineered CD55 membrane expression; IND filing expected by the end of 2026
- Received FDA Fast Track Designation for CLD-201, a first-in-class stem-cell loaded intratumoral viral therapy for the treatment of patients with soft tissue sarcoma
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Raised $4.6 million gross proceeds through a warrant inducement offering with existing investors that further strengthens the company’s balance sheet and extends its runway
SAN DIEGO, Aug. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Calidi Biotherapeutics Inc. (NYSE American: CLDI) (“Calidi”), a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering the development of targeted therapies with the potential to deliver genetic medicines to distal sites of disease, today reported its second quarter 2025 operating and financial results and reviewed recent business highlights.
“We are extremely excited about the progress at Calidi,” said Eric Poma, PhD, CEO of Calidi Biotherapeutics. “We believe our RedTail platform, with its ability to protect virus from immune clearance and induce tumor lysis and the delivery of potent therapeutic genetic medicines to metastatic sites through systemic administration, will be a substantial breakthrough in the field of oncolytic viruses and tumor-targeted gene therapies. We look forward to leveraging our scientific, operational and capital markets experience to continue building on Calidi’s strong platforms.”
Second Quarter 2025 and Recent Corporate Developments
- Presented new preclinical data surrounding CLD-401, the first lead compound from Calidi’s proprietary RedTail platform, at the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) on May 30 th in Chicago, IL., demonstrating enhanced biological efficacy in syngeneic tumor models through the delivery of IL15 superagonist to metastatic tumors sites after systemic administration. Calidi also demonstrated the engineered expression of CD55 on the enveloped virus, allowing the virus to avoid immune clearance and enabling systemic administration. The systemic administration of the CD55-expressing enveloped virus allows Calidi to target metastatic disease patients with high unmet need.
- Raised $4.6 million in gross proceeds from a warrant inducement offering with existing investors despite a challenging financing environment for the biotech industry, increasing the total gross proceeds raised in all offerings in 2025 to $15.7 million.
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Granted Fast Track Designation to CLD-201 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of patients with soft tissue sarcoma. CLD-201 is a first-in-class stem cell loaded intratumoral oncolytic viral therapy that has demonstrated significant advantages over current intratumoral oncolytic viral approaches. An IND for a Phase 1 study was successfully opened for CLD-201 in Q1-2025.
Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results
The company reported a net loss attributable to common stockholders of $5.7 million, or $1.99 per share, for the three months ended June 30, 2025, compared to a net loss attributable to common stockholders of $7.4 million, or $16.75 per share, for the same period in 2024.
Research and development expenses were $2.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2025, compared to $2.2 million for the comparable period in 2024.
General and administrative expenses were $3.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2025, compared to $3.6 million for the comparable period in 2024.
The company had approximately $5.3 million in cash and $0.1 million in restricted cash as of June 30, 2025, compared to $9.6 million in cash and $0.2 million in restricted cash as of December 31, 2024.
About Calidi Biotherapeutics
Calidi Biotherapeutics (NYSE American: CLDI) is a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company pioneering the development of targeted therapies with the potential to deliver genetic medicines to distal sites of disease. The company's proprietary Redtail platform features an engineered enveloped oncolytic virus designed for systemic delivery and targeting of metastatic sites. This advanced enveloped technology is intended to shield the virus from immune clearance, allowing virotherapy to effectively reach tumor sites, induce tumor lysis, and deliver potent gene therapies to metastatic locations.
The lead candidate from the Redtail platform, currently in IND-enabling studies, targets non-small cell lung cancer, ovarian cancer, and other tumor types with high unmet medical need. Additionally, Calidi is developing protected virotherapies, in clinical-stage, for intratumoral and localized administration, focusing on a subset of injectable cancer indications.
Calidi Biotherapeutics is headquartered in San Diego, California. For more information, please visit www.calidibio.com .
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements for purposes of the “safe harbor” provisions under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Terms such as “anticipates,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predicts,” “project,” “should,” “towards,” “would” as well as similar terms, are forward-looking in nature, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning key milestones, including certain pre-clinical data, planned clinical trials, and statements relating to the safety and efficacy of Calidi’s therapeutic candidates in development. Any forward-looking statements contained in this discussion are based on Calidi’s current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects and are subject to multiple risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth or implied in such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risk that Calidi is not able to raise sufficient capital to support its current and anticipated clinical trials, the risk that early results of clinical trials do not necessarily predict final results and that one or more of the clinical outcomes may materially change following more comprehensive review of the data, and as more patient data becomes available, the risk that Calidi may not receive FDA approval for some or all of its therapeutic candidates. Other risks and uncertainties are set forth in the section entitled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in the Company’s annual report filed with the SEC on Form 10-K on March 31, 2025, as may be amended or supplemented by other reports we file with the SEC from time to time.
Contacts:
For Investors and Media:
Dave Gentry, CEO
RedChip Companies, Inc.
1-407-644-4256
[email protected]
CALIDI BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS ( In thousands except for par value data ) |
||||||||
June 30,
2025 |
December 31,
2024 |
|||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||||
ASSETS | ||||||||
CURRENT ASSETS | ||||||||
Cash | $ | 5,279 | $ | 9,591 | ||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 770 | 636 | ||||||
Total current assets | 6,049 | 10,227 | ||||||
NONCURRENT ASSETS | ||||||||
Machinery and equipment, net | 929 | 869 | ||||||
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net | 2,333 | 2,934 | ||||||
Other noncurrent assets | 40 | 152 | ||||||
TOTAL ASSETS | $ | 9,351 | $ | 14,182 | ||||
LIABILITIES AND TOTAL EQUITY | ||||||||
CURRENT LIABILITIES | ||||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 1,215 | $ | 2,072 | ||||
Related party accounts payable | 12 | 2 | ||||||
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities | 1,493 | 1,858 | ||||||
Related party accrued expenses and other current liabilities | 441 | 480 | ||||||
Term notes payable, net of discount, including accrued interest | — | 251 | ||||||
Related party term notes payable, net of discount, including accrued interest | 775 | 2,702 | ||||||
Related party bridge loan payable, including accrued interest | — | 223 | ||||||
Related party other current liability | — | 638 | ||||||
Finance lease liability, current | 113 | 66 | ||||||
Operating lease right-of-use liability, current | 1,304 | 1,204 | ||||||
Total current liabilities | 5,353 | 9,496 | ||||||
NONCURRENT LIABILITIES | ||||||||
Operating lease right-of-use liability, noncurrent | 993 | 1,845 | ||||||
Finance lease liability, noncurrent | 226 | 145 | ||||||
Promissory note | 600 | 600 | ||||||
Warrant liability | 96 | 119 | ||||||
Related party warrant liability | 7 | 9 | ||||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES | 7,275 | 12,214 | ||||||
TOTAL EQUITY | 2,076 | 1,968 | ||||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND TOTAL EQUITY | $ | 9,351 | $ | 14,182 | ||||
CALIDI BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (In thousands, except per share data) |
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Three Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||
2025 | 2024 | |||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||||
OPERATING EXPENSES | ||||||||
Research and development | $ | (2,593 | ) | $ | (2,167 | ) | ||
General and administrative | (3,071 | ) | (3,605 | ) | ||||
Total operating expense | (5,664 | ) | (5,772 | ) | ||||
Loss from operations | (5,664 | ) | (5,772 | ) | ||||
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSES), NET | ||||||||
Interest expense | (29 | ) | (108 | ) | ||||
Interest expense – related party | (23 | ) | (165 | ) | ||||
Change in fair value of other liabilities and derivatives | (18 | ) | 86 | |||||
Change in fair value of other liabilities and derivatives – related party | (1 | ) | 9 | |||||
Grant income | — | 181 | ||||||
Other expense, net | (22 | ) | 10 | |||||
Total other income (expenses), net | (93 | ) | 13 | |||||
LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAXES | $ | (5,757 | ) | $ | (5,759 | ) | ||
Income tax provision | (4 | ) | (8 | ) | ||||
NET LOSS | $ | (5,761 | ) | $ | (5,767 | ) | ||
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest | (46 | ) | — | |||||
NET LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO CONTROLLING INTEREST | (5,715 | ) | (5,767 | ) | ||||
Deemed dividend on warrants | — | (1,671 | ) | |||||
NET LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMONv STOCKHOLDERS | (5,715 | ) | (7,438 | ) | ||||
Net loss per share; basic and diluted | $ | (1.99 | ) | $ | (16.75 | ) | ||
Weighted average common shares outstanding; basic and diluted | 2,877 | 444 | ||||||