VetStem receives immunotherapy license from human health firm

Biopharmaceutical animal health company VetStem has partnered with Calidi Biotherapeutics, a clinical‐stage biotechnology company specializing in the stem cell-based delivery of oncolytic virus-based immunotherapies for cancer.

Under the partnership, VetStem has received an exclusive veterinary worldwide license for the development and commercialization of Calidi Biotherapeutics’ SuperNova1 (SNV1) drug.

“This license is the culmination of two years of close collaboration between Calidi Biotherapeutics and VetStem,” says Robert Harman, DVM, MPVM, CEO of VetStem. “[We have] been in formal FDA development of a first-in-class stem cell therapy for osteoarthritis (OA) in dogs, and will utilize these same cells in combination with the Calidi SuperNova1 drug for therapy for multiple cancers in dogs.”

“We are proud to partner with VetStem Biopharma to develop our stem cell-based delivery of oncolytic virus-based immunotherapies in the veterinary field for this promising and novel cancer treatment,” adds Calidi Biotherapeutics CEO, Allan Camaisa. “Our key area of focus is human cancer. We are excited to see the use of our lead product in the veterinary field as it will further advance our drug as we move towards phase two clinical trials in humans. Now we are waging war against cancer in both humans and animals.”