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Exhibit 99.1
Candel Therapeutics Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2021 Financial Results and Recent Corporate Highlights
-Cash position remains strong to support operations into the fourth quarter of 2023-
NEEDHAM, Mass., March 29, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Candel Therapeutics, Inc. (Candel or the Company) (Nasdaq: CADL), a late clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on helping patients fight cancer with oncolytic viral immunotherapies, today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2021 and provided a corporate update.
“2021 was a year of significant progress for Candel, filled with important accomplishments in development of our late-stage pipeline of novel oncolytic viral immunotherapies for cancer treatment. We strengthened our organization for future growth with our successful initial public offering, by meeting key clinical trial accrual milestones and by enhancing our talent pool,” said Paul Peter Tak, MD, PhD, FMedSci, President and Chief Executive Officer of Candel. “Today, we are well positioned for major catalysts over the next 12 months, namely, multiple data readouts across our product candidates and advancement of our pipeline of promising therapeutics with potential to treat various solid tumors, including lung, brain, pancreatic and prostate cancer. We look forward to delivering on our mission to develop oncolytic viral immunotherapies aimed at tipping the balance in favor of the patient’s immune system to fight cancer.”
Fourth Quarter 2021 & Recent Highlights
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Key Upcoming Milestones
Financial Results for the Year and Fourth Quarter Ended December 31, 2021
Cash Position: Cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2021 were $82.6 million, compared to $35.1 million as of December 31, 2020. The increase was due to receipt of $71.3 million of net proceeds from the Company’s successful initial public offering (IPO) of common stock in August 2021. In addition, the Company utilized $22.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2021 to fund operating activities. Subsequent to December 31, 2021, the Company entered into a term loan agreement with SVB and borrowed $20.0 million. Based on current plans and assumptions, the Company expects that its existing cash and cash equivalents, including the $20 million in term loan proceeds, will be sufficient to fund its operations into the fourth quarter of 2023.
Research & Development Expenses: Research and development expenses were $3.9 million and $15.2 million for the three- and twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2021, respectively, as compared to $3.5 million and $8.8 million for the comparable periods of 2020. The increases were primarily due to increased personnel-related costs, including stock-based compensation, for additional headcount to support the ongoing clinical trials for Candel’s product candidates as well as increased clinical development costs related to our clinical trial sites and the cost of treatment and follow-up on patients. Excluding stock-based compensation
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expense of ($810,000) and $1.2 million for the three- and twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2021, respectively, research and development expenses for the three- and twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2021, were $4.7 million and $14.0 million, respectively.
General and Administrative Expenses: General and administrative expenses were $3.9 million and $10.7 million for the three- and twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2021, respectively, as compared to $2.6 million and $5.2 million for the comparable periods of 2020. The increases were primarily due to increased personnel-related costs, including stock-based compensation, for additional headcount required to support the growth of the Company and the transition to a public company, an increase in professional fees associated with Candel’s preparation for the IPO completed in August 2021 and costs associated with operating as a public company. Excluding stock-based compensation expense of $364,000 and $1.7 million for the three- and twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2021, respectively, general and administrative expenses for the three- and twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2021, were $3.5 million and $9.0 million, respectively.
Total Operating Expenses: Total operating expenses were $7.8 million and $25.9 million for the three- and twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2021, respectively, as compared to $6.2 million and $13.9 million for the comparable periods of 2020. The increases were primarily due to increased personnel-related costs, including stock-based compensation, for additional headcount required to support the growth of the Company and the transition to a public company, an increase in professional fees associated with Candel’s preparation for the IPO completed in August 2021, an increase in costs associated with operating as a public company and increased clinical development costs. Excluding stock-based compensation expense of ($446,000) and $2.9 million for the three- and twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2021, respectively, total operating expenses for the three- and twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2021, were $8.2 million and $23.0 million, respectively.
Net Loss: Net (income) loss was ($1.6 million) and $36.1 million for the three- and twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2021, respectively, as compared to a net loss of $10.5 million and $17.7 million for the comparable periods of 2020. The net (income) loss for the three- and twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2021, includes a noncash credit and charge of ($9.2 million) and $11.4 million, respectively, for the change in the fair value of the Company’s warrant liability and stock-based compensation expense of ($446,000) and $3.0 million, respectively. Excluding the noncash charges for the change in the warrant liability and the stock-based compensation, the net loss for the three- and twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2021, was $8.0 million and $21.7 million, respectively.
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Candel Therapeutics, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(QTD amounts are unaudited)
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Candel Therapeutics, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data
(in thousands)
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About Candel Therapeutics
Candel is a late clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on helping patients fight cancer with oncolytic viral immunotherapies. Candel’s engineered viruses are designed to induce immunogenic cell death through direct viral-mediated cytotoxicity in cancer cells, thus releasing tumor neo-antigens and creating a pro-inflammatory microenvironment at the site of injection. Candel has established two oncolytic viral immunotherapy platforms based on novel, genetically modified adenovirus and herpes simplex virus (HSV) constructs, respectively. CAN-2409 is the lead product candidate from the adenovirus platform, and CAN-3110 is the lead product candidate from the HSV platform. New discovery programs are based on the enLIGHTEN™ HSV platform.
For more information about Candel, visit www.candeltx.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release 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 key data readout milestones and indications; expectations regarding the therapeutic benefit of its programs; 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 management’s 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 Company’s programs; the Company’s ability to efficiently discover and develop product candidates; the Company’s ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval of product candidates; the Company’s ability to maintain its intellectual property; the implementation of the Company’s business model, and strategic plans for the Company’s business and product candidates, and other risks identified in the Company’s SEC filings, including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 29, 2022, 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 Company’s views only as of the date hereof and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date.
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Media Contact
Heidi Chokeir, PhD
Managing Director
Canale Communications
heidi.chokeir@canalecomm.com
619-203-5391
Investor Contact
Sylvia Wheeler
Principal
Wheelhouse Life Science Advisors
swheeler@wheelhouselsa.com