Candel Therapeutics Rallies on Phase 3 Lung Cancer Trial Start

The clinical study will evaluate the combination of aglatimagene besadenovec and valacyclovir alongside continued pembrolizumab. The treatment targets patients with metastatic, non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer who have exhausted options after standard chemotherapy and pembrolizumab therapy. Candel has partnered with clinical-research firm Parexel International to manage the trial, which aims to enroll participants across 150 global sites. The primary metric for success is overall survival, supported by secondary assessments of safety and patient quality of life. The FDA has already granted the drug fast-track designation, a status intended to expedite the development of treatments for serious conditions.

Chief Executive Officer Paul Peter Tak noted that the company refined its target patient population by incorporating data from a completed Phase 2 study. By integrating specific clinical and biomarker insights, the firm intends to maximize the probability of success for this late-stage investigation. The market responded positively to the timeline, reflecting optimism toward the company’s narrowed clinical focus.