Calidi Biotherapeutics (NYSE American: CLDI) announced that Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Antonio F. Santidrian will present at the ASGCT conference in Boston. He will discuss the company’s RedTail systemic virotherapy platform and new preclinical data for lead programs CLD-401 and CLD-501.
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AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
IND timeline End of 2026 Expected IND filing for CLD-401
$0.1878 Last Close
Volume Volume 4,949,920 vs 20-day average 10,648,118 (relative volume 0.46x). low
Technical Price $0.1878 is below the 200-day MA $1.47 and near the 52-week low $0.185.
CLDI was down 6.8% while key peers like APRE (-4.76%) and GNPX (-2.35%) also declined. Momentum scanner shows mixed action (APRE and ERNA up, GLMD down), indicating stock-specific factors rather than a unified sector move.
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 29 | AI partnership | Positive | -6.9% | TransferAI collaboration to streamline IND submission process for CLD-401. |
| Apr 21 | AACR data CLD-401 | Positive | -11.3% | Preclinical CLD-401 data with tumor-restricted IL-15 superagonist expression. |
| Apr 20 | AACR TCE data | Positive | -9.0% | RedTail in situ T-cell engagers and new CLD-501 TROP2-targeting candidate. |
| Apr 14 | IOVC presentation | Positive | -4.4% | IOVC talk on systemic delivery, tumor-selective replication and payload expression. |
| Apr 07 | ASGCT preview | Positive | -1.3% | Announcement of upcoming ASGCT presentation on RedTail systemic virotherapy. |
Pattern Detected
Recent scientifically positive updates on RedTail and CLD-401 have repeatedly coincided with negative 24h price reactions.
Recent Company History
Over the past month, Calidi has repeatedly highlighted its RedTail virotherapy platform and lead asset CLD-401 across AACR, IOVC, and ASGCT-focused announcements, alongside a new AI-enabled IND partnership with TransferAI. Each update emphasized tumor-selective IL‑15 superagonist delivery, in situ T‑cell engager strategies, and a targeted IND filing by end of 2026. Despite the constructive scientific and strategic tone, the stock saw 24‑hour declines from -1.31% to -11.35% after these events, suggesting a pattern of weak price follow-through on positive R&D news.
This announcement underscores continued scientific visibility for Calidi’s RedTail virotherapy platform and lead asset CLD-401, with new data highlighted at the ASGCT conference and an IND filing targeted by the end of 2026. Recent history shows multiple conference presentations and an AI-enabled IND partnership centered on the same program. Investors may focus on whether these R&D milestones translate into formal IND submission, clinical trial initiation, and additional strategic collaborations.
virotherapy medical
“The Company’s proprietary RedTail platform is a systemically delivered virotherapy platform”
Virotherapy is a medical approach that uses live viruses, often modified, to target and destroy diseased cells or deliver therapeutic genes, most commonly in cancer treatment. For investors, virotherapy matters because results from clinical trials, regulatory approvals, manufacturing scale-up and safety profiles determine whether a therapy can become a viable product; think of it as a precision tool whose clinical success and production challenges drive potential market value and risk.
tumor microenvironment medical
“engineered to selectively target tumors, remodel the tumor microenvironment (“TME”)”
The tumor microenvironment is the immediate area surrounding a cancer cell, made up of nearby cells, blood vessels, and support structures that influence how the cancer grows and spreads. It functions like a bustling neighborhood that can either help or hinder the tumor’s development. For investors, understanding changes in this environment can signal the effectiveness of treatments and potential shifts in a cancer-related market.
il-15 superagonist medical
“enable high-level expression of IL-15 superagonist (“IL-15 SA”), a known T- and NK-cell activator”
An IL-15 superagonist is a lab-engineered therapy that boosts the activity of IL-15, a natural immune signaling protein, effectively stepping on the accelerator for disease-fighting immune cells like natural killer and T cells. Investors pay attention because these agents can change clinical trial results, safety profiles, and regulatory outcomes; success or failure can significantly affect a biotech’s valuation and the commercial potential of immune-based treatments, like upgrading an engine can alter a car’s market value.
nk-cell medical
“IL-15 superagonist (“IL-15 SA”), a known T- and NK-cell activator”
A natural killer (NK) cell is a type of immune cell that patrols the body like a security guard, identifying and destroying virus-infected or cancerous cells without needing a prior warning. For investors, NK cells matter because they are the basis for therapies and diagnostics: drugs or engineered cell treatments that boost or harness NK cell activity can drive clinical trial value, regulatory milestones, and potential revenue in oncology and infectious disease markets.
gamma delta (γδ) t-cells medical
“including the recruitment and activation of NK, NK-T, and gamma delta (γδ) T-cells”
A type of white blood cell that acts like a small, fast-response security team in the immune system, recognizing stressed or abnormal cells directly instead of waiting for a detailed ID badge. Investors care because these cells are being developed as the basis for new immune therapies and diagnostics — their unique behavior can be turned into drugs, cell therapies, or biomarkers, but also brings different scientific and manufacturing risks compared with conventional treatments.
t cell engagers medical
“enable in situ expression of tumor-targeted T cell engagers, as demonstrated”
T cell engagers are engineered molecules that act like a matchmaker or bridge, linking a patient’s T cells (immune cells that kill infected or cancerous cells) directly to diseased cells so the immune system can destroy them. For investors, they matter because successful T cell engagers can become high-value therapies with steep clinical and regulatory milestones that drive a biotech company’s revenue potential and share price, while failures or safety issues can rapidly reduce valuation.
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
SAN DIEGO, May 13, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Antonio F. Santidrian, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer and Head of Technical Operations for Calidi Biotherapeutics, Inc. (NYSE American: CLDI) (“Calidi” or “the Company”), a biotechnology company pioneering the development of targeted genetic medicines, will speak tomorrow at the annual conference of the American Society for Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Santidrian was invited to speak at the conference and detail the exciting promise of Calidi’s RedTail platform and pipeline. The Company’s proprietary RedTail platform is a systemically delivered virotherapy platform engineered to selectively target tumors, remodel the tumor microenvironment (“TME”), and enable high-level expression of therapeutic genetic payloads directly within tumors.
Dr. Santidrian will discuss the engineering of the RedTail platform and present new data on CLD-401, the first lead from the RedTail platform. CLD-401 is a systemically delivered virotherapy designed to selectively target tumors and enable high-level expression of IL-15 superagonist (“IL-15 SA”), a known T- and NK-cell activator, driving profound immune changes in the TME, including the recruitment and activation of NK, NK-T, and gamma delta (γδ) T-cells that lead to a robust therapeutic response in immunocompetent animal models. The Company expects to file an IND for CLD-401 by the end of 2026. In addition to IL-15 SA delivery with CLD-401, the RedTail platform has also been shown to enable in situ expression of tumor-targeted T cell engagers, as demonstrated in a separate American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) presentation focused on the CLD-501 program.
“The data I will discuss tomorrow demonstrates the potential of the RedTail platform as systemic virotherapy that can deliver genetic medicine to metastatic sites after systemic administration,” said Dr. Santidrian. “The ability of CLD-401 to induce high levels of IL15-SA expression in the TME while maintaining low circulating levels may dramatically expand the therapeutic window of IL-15-mediated treatment.”
The Company continues to expand the functionality of the RedTail platform, with data presented at AACR across multiple programs including CLD-401 and CLD-501, and is also actively pursuing strategic partnerships to accelerate clinical development and broaden the impact of its RedTail platform.
About Calidi
Calidi Biotherapeutics (NYSE American: CLDI) is a biotechnology 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 genetic medicine(s) to metastatic locations.
CLD-401, the lead candidate from the RedTail platform, currently in IND-enabling studies, targets non-small cell lung cancer, head and neck cancer, and other tumor types with high unmet medical need. Calidi continues to advance its pipeline utilizing the RedTail platform including its novel approach to incorporate in situ T-cell engagers in solid tumors.
Calidi Biotherapeutics is headquartered in San Diego, California. For more information, please visit www.calidibio.com or view Calidi’s Corporate Presentation here.
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 27, 2026, as may be amended or supplemented by other reports we file with the SEC from time to time. We disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
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FAQ
What will Calidi Biotherapeutics (CLDI) present at the 2026 ASGCT conference in Boston?
Calidi Biotherapeutics will present on its RedTail systemic virotherapy platform and new data for lead candidate CLD-401. According to Calidi, the talk will cover platform engineering, tumor targeting, and immune activation within the tumor microenvironment.
Who is presenting for Calidi Biotherapeutics (CLDI) at the ASGCT 2026 conference?
Calidi Biotherapeutics’ Chief Scientific Officer, Antonio F. Santidrian, PhD, will present at the ASGCT conference. According to Calidi, he will describe RedTail platform design and highlight preclinical data from CLD-401 and CLD-501 programs in immunocompetent animal models.
What is Calidi Biotherapeutics’ CLD-401 program mentioned in the May 13, 2026 update?
CLD-401 is a systemically delivered virotherapy designed to target tumors and express an IL-15 superagonist. According to Calidi, it drives immune cell recruitment in the tumor microenvironment, with an IND filing expected by the end of 2026.
How does Calidi Biotherapeutics’ RedTail platform work according to the 2026 ASGCT announcement?
The RedTail platform is engineered for systemic delivery to selectively target tumors and remodel the tumor microenvironment. According to Calidi, it enables high-level expression of therapeutic genetic payloads, including IL-15 superagonists and tumor-targeted T cell engagers, directly within tumors.
What are IL-15 superagonists in Calidi Biotherapeutics’ CLD-401 program (CLDI)?
IL-15 superagonists (IL-15 SA) are designed to activate T and NK cells within tumors. According to Calidi, CLD-401 induces high IL-15 SA expression in the tumor microenvironment while keeping circulating levels low, which may widen the treatment window for IL-15-based therapies.
Is Calidi Biotherapeutics (CLDI) pursuing partnerships for its RedTail platform?
Calidi Biotherapeutics is actively pursuing strategic partnerships for its RedTail platform. According to Calidi, these collaborations aim to accelerate clinical development and broaden the impact of programs such as CLD-401 and CLD-501 across multiple tumor types.
