The final survival data from a phase IIa clinical trial revealed that the investigational treatment CAN-2409 may extend survival beyond standard-of-care docetaxel when combined with continued immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment, according to a press release from the manufacturer Candel Therapeutics Inc.1
Key Findings
According to the data, the median overall survival (mOS) among patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was 24.5 months, with 37% of patients exceeding survival of 24 months still alive at the time of data cutoff (March 3, 2025).1
In patients whose disease had progressed despite ICI therapy, the mOS was 21.5 months. This is significantly longer than the 9.8 to 11.8 months reported with standard-of-care treatment of docetaxel for a similar patient population.1
In the subgroup with non-squamous NSCLC and progressive disease despite ICI treatment, the mOS reached 25.4 months.1
About CAN-2409
CAN-2409 is an investigational adenovirus that delivers the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-tk) gene to tumors to activate a targeted immune response against the tumor.1
The therapy has shown the potential to target a range of solid tumors and has demonstrated encouraging monotherapy and combination therapy activity with radiotherapy, surgery, chemotherapy, and ICI.1
Throughout the extended follow-up, CAN-2409 maintained a consistent favorable safety and tolerability profile.1 Additionally, no new safety signals were reported.1
Moving Forward
These results suggest the CAN-2409 may be able to fill a critical treatment gap in advanced NSCLC, especially for patients who don’t respond to ICI. The company said its plans to advance the development program for CAN-2409 in NSCLC following these findings.
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