Calidi Biotherapeutics To Present Preclinical Data On CLD-401 And In Situ T-Cell Engager Programs At ESMO 2026, Highlighting Tumor Eradication And Antitumor Activity Findings

Calidi Biotherapeutics, Inc. (NYSE:CLDI) ("Calidi" or "the Company"), a biotechnology company pioneering the development of targeted genetic medicines, announced that it will be presenting two posters at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2026 taking place in Madrid, Spain from October 23-27, 2026. The presentations will showcase the Company’s RedTail platform, a systemically delivered virotherapy platform engineered to selectively target tumors, remodel the tumor microenvironment, and enable high-level expression of therapeutic genetic payloads directly within tumors.

On October 24, 2026, the Company will present preclinical data on its lead program, CLD-401. 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 tumor microenvironment ("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. Data will show high rates of complete tumor eradication in EMT6 breast cancer tumor-bearing mice. CLD-401 was engineered for systemic delivery, and new data from an MB49 bladder cancer model show that it also retains antitumor activity following either systemic intravenous or localized intratumoral administration, supporting flexible delivery approaches across tumor accessibility and disease settings.

Also on October 24, 2026, the Company will present preclinical data on CLD-501, the lead compound from its in situ T-cell engager ("TCE") platform, including CLD-501, its TROP-2-targeted candidate, and CLD-502, its EpCAM-targeted candidate. Both candidates are systemically delivered RedTail virotherapies designed to selectively target tumors and enable localized co-expression of a tumor-targeted TCE and IL-15 SA. The presentations will show antigen-dependent, dose-responsive T cell-mediated cytotoxicity for TROP-2- and EpCAM-targeted TCEs. Data from the EpCAM-targeted construct also show that incorporation of an additional TCE payload did not reduce expression of the co-encoded IL-15 SA payload in the reported in vitro or in vivo studies. By converting tumors into localized biofactories expressing TCEs and T cell-activating payloads, the In Situ TCE platform is designed to address the toxicity, tumor-exposure, and immunosuppressive TME barriers associated with systemically administered TCEs in solid tumors.

Together, the two ESMO presentations demonstrate the expanding flexibility of the RedTail platform, from CLD-401-mediated tumor immune priming to dual-payload candidates designed for localized T-cell redirection. The Company continues to expand the functionality of the RedTail platform and is also actively pursuing strategic partnerships to accelerate clinical development and broaden the impact of its RedTail platform.