Biotech Appoints Filipino-American As CEO To Drive Cancer Drug Development

PRESS RELEASE | Honoring our Filipino-American Trailblazers in Business Calidi Biotherapeutics, Inc. announces its corporate vision in groundbreaking cancer drug development and appoints Allan Camaisa as CEO By Calidi Biotherapeutics

SAN DIEGO, May 24, 2018 — Calidi Biotherapeutics, Inc., a clinical‐stage biotherapeutics company at the forefront of oncolytic virus-based immunotherapies for cancer, today announced a focused effort to advance its oncolytic virus drug development. Calidi Biotherapeutics is developing a novel cell-based platform for delivery of oncolytic viruses, which can be used standalone, or in combination with other immunotherapies.

Calidi Biotherapeutics board of directors appointed Allan J. Camaisa as its new CEO, to lead the organization towards successful drug discovery. Mr. Camaisa is a former U.S. Navy officer and veteran of the Persian Gulf, and has spent the last 25 years being the driving force behind several start-up companies that achieved successful corporate development and acquisition. His business acumen and proven track record in creating value for shareholders and employees will help Calidi Biotherapeutics to accelerate its efforts in the development of its lead product.

“Calidi Biotherapeutics has developed a groundbreaking technology using potent oncolytic viruses for the treatment of cancer. We are now focused on developing strategic partnerships and securing strong investments,” said Allan J. Camaisa, CEO and Chairman of Calidi Biotherapeutics. “We are also in active dialogue with the Food and Drug Administration for our Phase 1b/2a prostate cancer Investigational New Drug (IND) application, and we hope to be in clinical trials later this year.”

Calidi Biotherapeutics is focused on the optimized delivery of oncolytic viruses – a promising approach ineffective cancer treatments, while minimizing potential toxicity and improving tolerability as compared to conventional treatments. The cell-mediated oncolytic viral immunotherapy platform is designed to unleash a targeted attack on cancer, while sparing the patient’s healthy tissues and cells. The proprietary technology leverages a cell-based system to deliver potent oncolytic viral payloads directly to the tumor. The platform is designed specifically to target and kill cancer cells, while also engaging the patient’s immune system to induce a potent anti-tumor immune response. Calidi Biotherapeutics has active drug development programs targeting prostate and triple negative breast cancers.

About Calidi Bio Calidi Biotherapeutics is at the forefront of oncolytic virus-based immunotherapies for cancer, and is a clinical-stage drug development company with proprietary technology that overcomes the challenge to effective delivery of oncolytic viruses. The company’s research could transform the way that cancer is treated. Calidi Biotherapeutics is headquartered in San Diego, California. For more information, please visit www.calidibio.com.