Press Release
Candel Therapeutics (NASDAQ: CADL) Lead Candidate CAN-2409 Combats Lung, Pancreatic And Prostate Cancers With Fast Track Designation For Three Cancers
–News Direct–
By Jeremy Golden, Benzinga

Immunotherapy has transformed the way cancer is treated, but just 20% to 40% of patients typically respond to FDA-approved immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatments.
Poor ICI treatment response has been linked to the tumors ability to disguise antigen presentation and generate an immunosuppressive microenvironment. In addition, most conventional immunotherapies are not designed to educate the patients immune system on how to recognize a variety of tumor antigens and neoantigens.
Amid this landscape, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company has developed a new multimodal biological approach that leverages the ability of viral gene constructs to activate cancer-killing mechanisms, exposing multiple tumor antigens to the immune system, resulting in vaccination against the tumor while inhibiting the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment.
Candel Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: CADL) is developing a product candidate that is being studied in lung, pancreatic and prostate cancers. Candels most advanced viral immunotherapy candidate, CAN-2409, is an investigational off-the-shelf replication-defective adenovirus designed to induce an individualized, systemic immune response against the patients own tumor.
Part of the companys adenovirus platform, CAN-2409 is injected directly into the tumor or target tissue using a localized injection, akin to the standard approach for vaccination.
CAN-2409's adenoviral construct serves as a vector to transport the HSV-thymidine kinase gene into tumor cells at the site of injection. These tumor cells can then express HSV-thymidine kinase, which converts generic, FDA-approved anti-herpes drugs such as ganciclovir, acyclovir and valacyclovir into a toxic nucleotide analog that blocks DNA synthesis in dividing cells.
Cancer cells exposed to the toxic nucleotide analog in the tumor microenvironment have been observed to undergo immunogenic cell death. Simultaneously, the adenoviral serotype 5 capsid protein elicits a strong pro-inflammatory signal in the tumor microenvironment, creating the optimal conditions to induce a specific CD8+ T cell-mediated response against the injected tumor and uninjected distant metastases for broad and systemic anti-tumor activity.
CAN-2409 is currently being studied in an open-label, phase 2 clinical trial in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and in randomized, controlled, blinded phase 2b and phase 3 clinical trials in prostate cancer. The company has recently released very encouraging data for CAN-2409s ability to improve overall survival in non-metastatic pancreatic cancer, with topline overall survival data in non-small cell lung cancer planned for this quarter (Q2 2024) and results from the prostate clinical trials later this year (Q4 2024).
When it comes to NSCLC, the company previously presented data from the phase 2 clinical trial in which patients received two administrations of CAN-2409 plus prodrug. Those patients demonstrated the following:
1) Increased infiltration of CD8+ cytotoxic T cells in the tumor microenvironment, systemic expansion of effector T cells and increased soluble granzyme B levels in peripheral blood;
2) Favorable changes in the trajectory of tumor progression;
3) Decreased tumor size of target lesions in most patients; and
4) Reduced size of uninjected tumor lesions.
The CAN-2409 immunotherapy antitumor strategy aims to increase the number of long survivors beyond 10 to 13 months.
As previous work has shown that progressive disease could be converted into stable disease in most patients with non-small cell lung cancer after CAN-2409 treatment, the hypothesis is that this will translate into improved survival.
When it comes to pancreatic cancer, the company reported notable improvements in patients with borderline resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) after experimental treatment with CAN-2409. The estimated overall survival rate was 71.4% at 24 months in CAN-2409-treated patients versus only 16.7% in the control arm after chemoradiation.
In 2023, CAN-2409 received Fast Track Designation for both non-small cell lung cancer and pancreatic cancer, a validation from the FDA on its potential. CAN-2409 plus valacyclovir in combination with continued PD-1/PD-L1 agents is being evaluated in an ongoing, open-label phase 2 clinical trial in patients with late-stage NSCLC and an inadequate response to anti-PD(L)-1 therapy. In 2024, CAN-2409 also received Orphan Drug Designation from the FDA for CAN-2409 in borderline resectable pancreatic cancer.
In the upcoming year, Candel plans to announce data readouts for the following:
1) Phase 2 topline overall survival (OS) data for CAN-2409 in NSCLC, expected in Q2 2024;
2) Phase 2 topline data for CAN-2409 in low-to-intermediate-risk, localized, non-metastatic prostate cancer, expected in Q4 2024;
3) Phase 3 topline data for CAN-2409 in localized intermediate/high-risk prostate cancer, expected in Q4 2024.
Featured photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash.
Candel is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing off-the-shelf multimodal biological immunotherapies that elicit an individualized, systemic anti-tumor immune response to help patients fight cancer. Candel has established two clinical stage multimodal biological immunotherapy platforms based on novel, genetically modified adenovirus and herpes simplex virus (HSV) gene constructs, respectively. CAN-2409 is the lead product candidate from the adenovirus platform and is currently in ongoing clinical trials in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (phase 2), borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (phase 2), and localized, non-metastatic prostate cancer (phase 2 and phase 3). CAN-3110 is the lead product candidate from the HSV platform and is currently in an ongoing investigator-sponsored phase 1 clinical trial in recurrent high-grade glioma (HGG). Finally, Candels enLIGHTEN Discovery Platform is a systematic, iterative HSV-based discovery platform leveraging human biology and advanced analytics to create new viral immunotherapies for solid tumors.
This article includes certain disclosures that contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including, without limitation, express or implied statements regarding the timing and advancement of development programs, including the timing and availability of additional data, key data readout milestones, including CAN-3110 in HGG; expectations regarding the potential benefits conferred by Fast Track Designation; expectations regarding the therapeutic benefit of its programs, including the potential for its programs to extend patient survival; and expectations regarding cash runway and expenditures. The words may, will, could, would, should, expect, plan, anticipate, intend, believe, estimate, predict, project, potential, continue, target and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on managements current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and important factors that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements contained in this press release, including, without limitation, those risks and uncertainties related to the timing and advancement of development programs; expectations regarding the therapeutic benefit of the Companys programs; that final data from our pre-clinical studies and completed clinical trials may differ materially from reported interim data from ongoing studies and trials; the Companys ability to efficiently discover and develop product candidates; the Companys ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval of product candidates; the Companys ability to maintain its intellectual property; the implementation of the Companys business model, and strategic plans for the Companys business and product candidates, and other risks identified in the Companys SEC filings, including the Companys most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC, and subsequent filings with the SEC. The Company cautions you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. The Company disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any such statements to reflect any change in expectations or in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release represent the Companys views only as of the date hereof and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date.
This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice.
Contact Details
Aljanae Reynolds
+1 617-916-5445
Company Website
View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/candel-therapeutics-nasdaq-cadl-lead-candidate-can-2409-combats-lung-pancreatic-and-prostate-cancers-with-fast-track-designation-for-three-cancers-458506267
Candel Therapeutics
COMTEX_453480918/2655/2024-06-07T08:28:02
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Press Release
Galatea by Inkitt Celebrates 100+ Five-Star Reviews Amid Rising Popularity
California, USA, 3rd May 2026, ZEX PR WIRE — Galatea, the rapidly growing digital reading platform developed by Inkitt, has surpassed 100 five-star reviews, marking a significant milestone in its continued rise among global readers. The achievement highlights strong user satisfaction and reinforces Galatea’s position as more than just a reading app. As part of Inkitt’s broader story-to-screen ecosystem, Galatea plays a central role in transforming reader-driven content into multi-format entertainment, extending all the way to television through CandyJar.
This milestone arrives at a time when audiences are actively seeking more flexible and engaging ways to consume stories. Galatea has responded by offering a format that aligns with modern habits while still preserving the emotional depth that readers expect from strong storytelling.
A Milestone That Reflects Real Reader Loyalty
Reaching over 100 five-star reviews signals more than short-term success. It reflects consistent reader satisfaction and an ability to maintain engagement over time. Users frequently highlight how seamlessly the platform fits into their daily routines, whether they are reading during short breaks, while commuting, or winding down at night.
This accessibility has helped Galatea build a loyal user base. Readers are not simply downloading the app and leaving. They return regularly to continue stories, explore new releases, and stay connected to ongoing narratives. The growing number of five-star reviews demonstrates that users are finding lasting value in the experience.
In an environment where attention is divided across multiple platforms, this level of retention is notable. Galatea has managed to create a product that readers continue to engage with long after their first interaction.
A Reading Experience Designed for Modern Habits
Galatea has built its platform around the idea that reading should adapt to the reader. Instead of presenting long chapters that require uninterrupted time, the platform delivers stories in episodic segments that are easy to consume. This structure makes reading more approachable and encourages consistent engagement.
The platform also offers multiple formats within a single story. Readers can move seamlessly between ebook and audiobook modes, allowing them to switch based on their situation. In addition, Galatea includes chat-style storytelling, where narratives unfold through text-message-like conversations. This format introduces variety and reflects how people naturally communicate today.
Audio is another defining feature of the platform. Full narration and carefully designed sound elements support the storytelling experience and add depth to each scene. Rather than acting as a background feature, audio plays an active role in shaping how stories are experienced.
Together, these features create a reading environment that feels flexible, engaging, and suited to modern lifestyles.
A Story-to-Screen Pipeline That Sets It Apart
Galatea’s growth is closely tied to Inkitt’s larger story-to-screen model, which differentiates it from traditional reading platforms. The process begins on Inkitt, where writers share their work and reader engagement determines which stories gain traction. The most promising titles are then published on Galatea, where they reach a wider audience in enhanced formats.
From there, the most successful stories move into television development on CandyJar. This structured pipeline allows content to evolve naturally, moving from written storytelling to screen adaptation based on proven audience demand.
This model offers a clear pathway for writers. Instead of navigating uncertain publishing routes, authors can see their work progress step by step, guided by reader response. It also ensures that the stories adapted for television already have a built-in audience, reducing risk and increasing the likelihood of success.
For readers, the pipeline adds another layer of engagement. Stories they discover on Galatea have the potential to expand into visual formats, creating a deeper connection to the content. This continuity strengthens the overall experience and sets the platform apart in a crowded market.
Content That Reflects What Readers Actually Want
Galatea’s content strategy is built on real user behavior. By leveraging data from Inkitt, the platform identifies stories that already resonate with readers. This ensures that the content available on Galatea aligns closely with audience preferences.
Genres such as romance, fantasy, thriller, drama, and Young Adult continue to perform strongly, reflecting consistent demand across a wide range of readers. At the same time, the platform introduces new voices and perspectives, maintaining a balance between familiar themes and fresh ideas.
This approach reduces the uncertainty often associated with content selection. Instead of relying on predictions, Galatea uses measurable engagement to guide its decisions. The result is a library that feels both curated and relevant.
For writers, this system creates meaningful opportunities. Success is determined by reader response, allowing emerging authors to gain visibility and build an audience based on the strength of their work.
Listening to Feedback and Improving the Experience
The increase in five-star reviews also reflects Galatea’s responsiveness to its users. Feedback plays a direct role in shaping the platform’s development. Readers frequently mention features such as customizable settings, smooth navigation, and the ability to switch between formats without interruption.
These elements contribute to a user-friendly experience that appeals to a broad audience. Small improvements, driven by real feedback, continue to enhance the platform’s usability.
Galatea’s ability to adapt has become a key strength. As user expectations evolve, the platform remains focused on refining its features while maintaining the core aspects that readers value.
Meeting the Demand for Flexible Storytelling
Modern readers are looking for flexibility, and Galatea has positioned itself to meet that demand. The platform allows users to engage with stories in different ways, depending on their preferences and schedules.
Whether through short reading sessions, audiobook listening, or interactive chat-based formats, users can choose how they want to experience each story. This adaptability makes it easier to stay engaged without disrupting daily routines.
The ability to move between formats also adds to the overall experience. A reader can begin a story in text form, continue it as an audiobook, and explore chat-style interactions within the same narrative. This level of flexibility keeps the platform dynamic and appealing.
Building a Community Around Stories
As Galatea continues to grow, it is also building a strong and engaged community. The increasing number of five-star reviews reflects not only individual satisfaction but also a shared enthusiasm among users.
Readers actively recommend the platform, share feedback, and contribute to its visibility. This organic growth has played an important role in expanding Galatea’s reach.
For writers, this community creates valuable opportunities for connection and recognition. Authors can engage with readers directly and see how their work resonates in real time. This interaction strengthens the relationship between creators and their audience.
Each positive review adds to the platform’s credibility and encourages new users to explore what it has to offer.
Looking Ahead
Surpassing 100 five-star reviews marks an important milestone, but it also signals continued growth. Galatea remains focused on expanding its content library, improving its features, and strengthening its role within Inkitt’s story-to-screen ecosystem.
The integration with CandyJar creates new possibilities for content development, allowing stories to move beyond the app and reach wider audiences. This connection positions Galatea as a key part of a larger entertainment strategy rather than a standalone platform.
As more readers discover the app, the platform is expected to continue building momentum and attracting new users. The steady increase in positive feedback suggests that it is meeting the expectations of its audience and adapting effectively to changing preferences.
Conclusion
Galatea’s achievement of over 100 five-star reviews reflects its ability to deliver a reading experience that aligns with modern expectations. By combining flexible formats, data-driven content, and a clear path from story to screen through CandyJar, the platform offers something distinct in the digital reading space.
As part of Inkitt’s broader vision, Galatea represents more than a reading app. It is a central piece of a storytelling ecosystem where ideas begin with readers and have the potential to grow into larger forms of entertainment. With strong user engagement and a clear direction for growth, Galatea continues to establish itself as a platform that understands both storytelling and the people who enjoy it.
For more information, please feel free to visit https://galatea.com/
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Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Digi Observer journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
Press Release
Milestone Launches Project : Tsavkisi, The First Design-Code Community Near Tbilisi
Milestone has launched Project : Tsavkisi, a residential land-plot development situated on a hillside in the Tsavkisi area, just an 18-minute drive from Tbilisi, Georgia. The project comprises 63 individual land plots, each offering panoramic views of the surrounding forest and the city.
Tbilisi, Georgia, 2nd May 2026 – Milestone has launched Project : Tsavkisi, a residential land-plot development situated on a hillside in the Tsavkisi area, just an 18-minute drive from Tbilisi, Georgia. The project comprises 63 individual land plots, each offering panoramic views of the surrounding forest and the city.

Project : Tsavkisi is a thoughtfully planned community with a unified architectural identity, seamlessly integrated into the natural landscape. It is designed for those who wish to build a residence in a scenic setting while remaining just minutes away from central Tbilisi.
The presale is now open.
The development spans 10 hectares, with 24,000 m² dedicated to curated shared public spaces, including children’s playgrounds, sports courts, and forest walking paths. The project includes professionally maintained shared areas and green zones, along with 24/7 secured territory.
The architectural vision of Project : Tsavkisi is rooted in a landscape-oriented approach. To create a unique living environment, the project has developed a set of architectural guidelines – a Design Code, where every element is thoughtfully connected to the next. The Code extends from façade materials and roofing guidelines to color selection. A recommended palette of muted, earth-derived tones is designed to maintain visual harmony with the natural landscape. The project adopts a low-density development strategy that maintains visual openness and integrates seamlessly with the natural terrain, avoiding high retaining walls and other intrusive structural elements.
Homeowners are offered the flexibility to develop individual designs in accordance with the Design Code or to select from a catalogue of nine pre-designed residential houses. They have been created in collaboration with established architectural studios, recognized for their experience in residential design and landscape-driven planning.
The project is designed for residents who lead active urban lives but seek a home in a quiet, natural setting, without sacrificing their connection to the city. Project : Tsavkisi sets a benchmark for holistic suburban development, where each residence contributes to a unified architectural identity.
About Milestone
Milestone is a Georgian real estate development and management company based on innovative vision and ideas, defining environments for quality life. Expanding its portfolio, the company is currently developing a new residential project in the heart of Tbilisi, set to be introduced soon.
Media Contact
Organization: Milestone
Contact Person: Lasha Eliadze
Website: https://www.projecttsavkisi.ge/
Email:
info@milestone.ge
Contact Number: +995598399899
City: Tbilisi
Country:Georgia
Release id:44575
The post Milestone Launches Project : Tsavkisi, The First Design-Code Community Near Tbilisi appeared first on King Newswire. This content is provided by a third-party source.. King Newswire makes no warranties or representations in connection with it. King Newswire is a press release distribution agency and does not endorse or verify the claims made in this release. If you have any complaints or copyright concerns related to this article, please contact the company listed in the ‘Media Contact’ section
About Author
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Digi Observer journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
Press Release
Dark Watch Integration with Leading Service Platform Sets a New Standard of Care in Therapist Safety
Integration embeds real-time safety intelligence into therapists’ booking and payment workflows—helping therapy practices and service-based businesses identify and prevent high-risk interactions before appointments begin.
United States, 2nd May 2026 —May 1, 2026—Dark Watch, the embedded safety intelligence layer for modern commerce, today announced that its integration with a leading service-based platform is now live. The integration introduces a proactive safety capability designed to help prevent assaults and high-risk incidents in therapist-client environments.
Service-based businesses, particularly those in the wellness, spa, and personal care sectors, often involve private, one-on-one interactions between staff and clients. These environments are built on trust, but they can also expose therapists to elevated risk, such as from inappropriate behavior, harassment, boundary violations, and, in some cases, physical assault. Despite this, most booking and payment systems provide little to no visibility into potential risk before an appointment begins.
Historically, businesses have relied on reactive measures to mitigate these risks, e.g., incident reporting, internal notes, or post-event responses. The Dark Watch integration shifts that model upstream, enabling businesses to identify potential risk signals before an appointment is confirmed or a client arrives.
“A service-based business should not have to rely on reactive measures to reduce risk,” said Noel Thomas, CEO of Dark Watch. “Therapists are operating in one-on-one settings where the risk is real, and expectations are changing. Businesses shouldn’t have to choose between experience and protection. Dark Watch embeds security directly into the booking and payment layer, delivering real-time risk mitigation at the moment it matters most. The result is a new standard of care—one that protects therapists, strengthens brand trust, and delivers measurable safety benefits without disrupting the client experience.”
Through the integration, Dark Watch’s intelligence layer is embedded directly into booking and payment workflows. As appointments are scheduled, the system evaluates a range of risk signals that help identify patterns associated with prior inappropriate behavior, unsafe interactions, or indicators that warrant additional review.
The integration enables businesses to receive discreet, real-time insights at the moment of booking—before a therapist is assigned, before a client arrives, and before a potentially unsafe interaction occurs.
For operators, this creates a new layer of protection: improving therapist safety by identifying high-risk appointments early, increasing operational confidence when interacting with new clients, reducing the likelihood of incidents, and supporting staff retention in roles where safety concerns can drive turnover.
By embedding this capability directly into the platform layer, businesses can adopt proactive safety without adding friction to the booking experience or requiring additional tools. The system operates quietly in the background, preserving the client experience while enhancing staff protection.
The launch reflects a broader shift across the experience economy. Platforms are increasingly expected to safeguard not only transactions, but also the people behind them. As awareness grows around therapist safety in one-on-one service environments, proactive protection is becoming a critical expectation and an emerging standard of care.
Dark Watch’s technology is gaining traction across a growing set of platforms spanning payments, financial services, and real-world commerce systems. With multiple platform deployments now live or underway, the company continues to expand its footprint as a safety intelligence layer embedded directly into the infrastructure that powers everyday interactions.
Together, these deployments are establishing a new standard: protecting therapists and staff before the interaction begins.
For more information, visit https://darkwatch.io
About Dark Watch
Dark Watch delivers an embedded safety intelligence layer for payment platforms, financial institutions, and real-world commerce systems. The platform leverages advanced AI and proprietary intelligence sources to identify risk signals tied to unsafe behavior, harassment patterns, and high-risk interactions—before transactions occur.
Media Contact
Organization: Dark Watch
Contact Person: Noel Thomas
Website: https://darkwatch.io
Email: Send Email
Country:United States
Release id:44597
The post Dark Watch Integration with Leading Service Platform Sets a New Standard of Care in Therapist Safety appeared first on King Newswire. This content is provided by a third-party source.. King Newswire makes no warranties or representations in connection with it. King Newswire is a press release distribution agency and does not endorse or verify the claims made in this release. If you have any complaints or copyright concerns related to this article, please contact the company listed in the ‘Media Contact’ section
About Author
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Digi Observer journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
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