NEEDHAM, Mass. Candel Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company based in Massachusetts, announced a significant milestone in its effort to develop an effective treatment for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track Designation to the company’s lead investigational drug CAN-2409, a promising new addition to the global fight against pancreatic cancer.
The FDA Fast Track is a process designed to facilitate the development, and expedite the review of drugs to treat serious conditions and fill an unmet medical need. The designation reflects the potential of CAN-2409 to make a significant positive difference for those diagnosed with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, a common type of pancreatic cancer with a devastating prognosis.
Candel, which is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange under the symbol CADL, focuses on developing multimodal biological immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer. The company’s recent breakthrough revolves around CAN-2409, an investigational agent designed to trigger the patient’s own immune system to fight cancer.
CAN-2409 is based on adenovirus vector technology, a method that uses common viruses to deliver genetic material into cells. For this specific application, CAN-2409 is combined with a prodrug known as valacyclovir. Valacyclovir is converted inside cancer cells into a chemotherapy-like drug, selectively killing the cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy cells. This innovative approach holds the potential to improve overall survival rates for patients with PDAC, a form of cancer notoriously hard to treat.
Pancreatic cancer is among the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide, with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma accounting for around 90% of all pancreatic cancers. The prognosis for PDAC is poor, with the five-year survival rate being just 10%.There is a great need for new and more effective treatments to have a significant impact on the progression of this aggressive disease. The FDA’s Fast Track designation for CAN-2409 will undoubtedly accelerate development and review of this promising agent, provide continued encouragement for those diagnosed with PDAC, and, crucially, bring novel treatment options to pancreatic cancer patients faster.
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