In the ever-evolving landscape of biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, few individuals stand out with a record as distinguished as Dr. Paul Peter Tak. With an impressive career spanning various leadership roles and a multitude of scientific contributions, Dr. Tak has cemented his position as a luminary in the field of medicine. As the President and Chief Executive Officer of Candel since September 2020, he has not only led the company through its successful IPO on the Nasdaq in 2021 but has also continued to steer its scientific endeavors towards new heights.
A graduate cum laude from the Amsterdam University Medical Center, Dr. Tak’s foundational training as an internist, rheumatologist, and immunologist was completed at Leiden University Medical Center, where he also earned his Ph.D. His academic journey further flourished at the University of California San Diego, where he served as a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine, and at the Amsterdam University Medical Center, where he was a Professor of Medicine and Chair of the Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology.
Dr. Tak’s pioneering research on the vagus nerve’s role in chronic inflammation has opened new therapeutic avenues in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, particularly through bioelectronics. His scholarly contributions are monumental, with approximately 600 papers in peer-reviewed journals and an H-index of 144, reflecting the profound impact of his research on the scientific community.
His tenure at GlaxoSmithKline as Senior Vice President, Chief Immunology Officer, and Global Development Leader saw the inception of several new medicines under his leadership, further showcasing his expertise in driving innovation within the pharmaceutical industry. Dr. Tak’s entrepreneurial spirit was also evident in his roles at Flagship Pioneering, Kintai Therapeutics, and as a board director for multiple biotech enterprises.
Currently, Dr. Tak’s influence extends to positions on the Board of Sitryx Therapeutics, which he co-founded, Levicept, and as the Chair of the Board of Citryll. His contributions to the field have not gone unnoticed, with accolades such as the PharmaVOICE100 honoree and inclusion in ‘The Medicine Maker Power List 2023’, where he is ranked among the top immunologists worldwide.
As we sit down with Dr. Tak, we delve into the mind of a scientific visionary whose work continues to shape the future of medical science and patient care.
Thank you for taking time to share your knowledge and experience with our audience. Can you start by telling the audience about yourself?
I am a physician-scientist. My goal has always been to improve patients’ lives. First, as a physician treating my patients in internal medicine and in rheumatology. Later, I tried to increase my impact through research and by training other physicians to become medical specialists and scientists. At some point, I decided to join big pharma, with the aim of developing medicines for larger patient populations. I continued that work in a more entrepreneurial setting, in biotech, where we can move faster. I feel I have always had the same mission, but learned how to approach from different perspectives.
Can you tell our audience about Candel Therapeutics? What is the problem it is addressing and how is it doing so?
Candel Therapeutics aims to develop new therapeutic solutions for patients with difficult-to-treat cancers: high-grade glioma (brain cancer), borderline resectable pancreatic cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, and early, localized prostate cancer. For each of these indications, there’s a huge unmet need. Our investigational medicines are multimodal immunotherapies.
First, we are evaluating the effects of CAN-2409, an off-the-shelf product that elicits an individualized anti-tumor immune response against the injected tumor and the uninjected metastases. For each of the indications, we already have initial proof of concept in patients, which significantly increases the probability of success that we will have a medicine at the other end of it. Recently, we were granted Fast Track Designation by the FDA. This year, in 2024, we expect phase 2 data in pancreatic cancer, phase 2 data in lung cancer, and phase 2 and phase 3 data in prostate cancer. It’s going to be a very important year!
Second, we are testing the effects of CAN-3110, an oncolytic herpes simplex virus designed to replicate specifically in the tumor while sparing the healthy tissue. We recently published our initial encouraging findings after a single injection of CAN-3110 in the first 41 patients with therapy-resistant cancer, recurrent high-grade glioma (mainly glioblastoma) in Nature. We have now started to explore the effects of multiple injections and expect initial results in the second half of this year. The effects of CAN-3110 could also be explored in tumors outside the brain and we will start to do the enabling work to do so shortly.
Finally, we have created the unique enLIGHTEN Discovery platform, which is a systematic, iterative HSV-based discovery platform leveraging human biology and advanced analytics to create new multimodal immunotherapies for solid tumors. Candel entered a discovery collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania Center for Cellular Immunotherapies to identify how multimodal immunotherapy could enhance the efficacy of CAR-T cell therapy in solid tumors.
Here are instructional videos demonstrating the functionality of CAN-2409 and CAN-3110.
What inspired you to pursue a career that intersects both clinical medicine and research, particularly in the field of immunology, rheumatology, and oncology?
My fascination with the complexity of the immune system and its critical role in human health was the primary driver behind my decision to delve into immunology and rheumatology. The opportunity to alleviate suffering caused by autoimmune diseases through a deeper understanding of their pathogenesis was compelling.
During my early medical education, I witnessed firsthand the limitations of available treatments for chronic inflammatory conditions, which often left patients with inadequate relief and significant side effects. This realization ignited my passion for finding innovative therapeutic avenues that could transform patient care.
My journey has been about bridging the gap between cutting-edge research and clinical application, aiming to translate scientific discoveries into real-world medical solutions. Later, I started to use my learnings in immunology in oncology. The biology is the same, but the goal is often the opposite: you want to stimulate the immune system to target tumor cells compared to inhibiting the immune system to alleviate autoimmune disease. That’s why I sometimes call oncology ‘reverse rheumatology’.
Could you discuss the pivotal moments in your research on the vagus nerve’s role in chronic inflammation and how this has influenced the development of bioelectronic therapies?
The discovery that the vagus nerve modulates chronic inflammatory responses was a groundbreaking moment in my career. It challenged the traditional view of the immune system as an autonomous entity, introducing the concept that neural pathways could have a direct impact on immune function. This led to pioneering studies demonstrating that vagal nerve stimulation could significantly reduce inflammation, offering a novel approach for treating autoimmune diseases. These findings sparked interest in bioelectronic medicine, a field that seeks to harness electrical impulses to correct dysregulated biological processes. As our understanding of neural-immune interactions evolved, we’ve been able to develop targeted bioelectronic therapies with the potential to offer precise, personalized treatment options with fewer side effects compared to conventional pharmaceuticals.
What challenges did you encounter during the IPO process for Candel, and how did your experience in both medicine and business helps navigate these challenges?
The IPO journey for Candel was both exhilarating and challenging. One of the primary obstacles was that some of Candel’s legacy programs had been under the radar for a long time. There were also still gaps in our mechanistic understanding as to how our investigational medicines may work. Since then, we have filled in these gaps, as illustrated by our scientific publication in Nature.
My background in medicine and science provided me with the insights necessary to articulate the potential impact of our work on patient care and to fill in the scientific gaps, while my business experience helped me understand the financial and strategic aspects crucial for a successful public offering. Balancing the optimistic vision for our technology’s future with realistic assessments of risk and timelines was essential for gaining investor confidence.
Throughout this process, I drew upon my experiences at GSK and as CEO of other biotech ventures to steer Candel through rigorous due diligence and regulatory requirements, ultimately achieving a successful IPO.
How does your approach to building a portfolio of new medicines balance scientific innovation with the practicalities of drug development and commercialization?
Building a robust portfolio requires a strategic alignment between innovative science, patient needs, and market demands. My approach has always focused on identifying unmet medical needs as a starting point, followed by rigorous scientific exploration to find solutions that are both effective and feasible for development.
I emphasize a culture of disciplined innovation, where every project is regularly evaluated for its scientific merit, development progress, competitive landscape, and potential market impact. I call this dynamic portfolio management. This ensures that our investments are directed towards programs with the highest likelihood of success.
Furthermore, fostering partnerships with academia, industry peers, and patient groups is crucial for gathering diverse insights that inform our drug development strategies.
In your tenure at GlaxoSmithKline, which project or medicine development are you most proud of and why?
Among the many projects I had the privilege to lead at GlaxoSmithKline, the development of belimumab (Benlysta®) stands out. It was the first new treatment approved for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in over 50 years, addressing a significant unmet need in this patient population. The success of belimumab not only provided a new therapeutic option for patients suffering from SLE but also validated the importance of B-cell modulation in autoimmune disease management.
This achievement was the culmination of years of dedication and collaboration across multiple teams, and it exemplified the potential of targeted biological therapies to change the course of chronic diseases.
How do you envision the future of bioelectronics in autoimmune diseases, and what hurdles do we need to overcome to make these therapies more accessible?
Bioelectronics holds immense promise for the future treatment of autoimmune diseases by offering an alternative to pharmacological interventions. The vision is to utilize devices that can modulate specific neural circuits and thereby control immune responses precisely and reversibly. For bioelectronics to become mainstream, several challenges must be addressed: miniaturization of devices, ensuring long-term safety and efficacy, patient and physician education, and integrating these therapies into existing healthcare frameworks.
Moreover, the regulatory landscape for medical devices is evolving, and we must work closely with authorities to establish clear pathways for approval. Finally, making these therapies accessible will require demonstrating cost-effectiveness and securing insurance coverage to ensure that patients can benefit from these innovative treatments.
What are the current trends in immunology research that excite you the most, and how is Candel positioned to contribute to these areas?
Immunology research is currently witnessing several exciting trends, including the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors and CAR-T cells in cancer, the gut microbiome’s influence on immunity, the development of personalized immunotherapies, and the creation of viral immunotherapies that help to educate the patient’s immune system how to recognize and eliminate tumor cells.
At Candel, we are particularly excited about the potential of creating multimodal immunotherapies that result in off-the-shelf products that may elicit an individualized anti-tumor immune response. We are also exploring how artificial intelligence can be used to better understand immune system dynamics and predict therapeutic outcomes. Our position is unique because we combine cutting-edge research with a nimble biotech mindset, allowing us to pivot quickly and embrace novel scientific discoveries that can be translated into effective therapies.
As a leader in biopharma, what strategies do you employ to foster innovation and creativity within your teams?
Fostering innovation in biopharma involves creating an environment where multidisciplinary collaboration is encouraged, and calculated risks are supported. I prioritize hiring diverse talent with varying perspectives and expertise, because breakthrough ideas often come from the intersection of different fields.
I also believe in setting clear goals while providing teams with the autonomy to explore creative solutions. Regular scientific forums within the company are essential to spark discussions and share insights across projects.
Encouraging team members to stay abreast of the latest scientific literature and participate in conferences helps maintain a culture of continuous learning and curiosity.
How has your role as a board member in various organizations influenced your perspective on global healthcare challenges?
My involvement with various boards has expanded my understanding of the multifaceted nature of global healthcare challenges. It has provided me with a panoramic view of healthcare systems across different regions, allowing me to appreciate the unique hurdles faced by various populations.
These experiences have reinforced my commitment to ensuring that innovations in medicine are not only groundbreaking but also equitable. They have informed my strategic decisions at Candel, where we endeavor to create solutions that are scalable and have a global impact. This perspective is particularly important when considering diseases that disproportionately affect low-income countries, where access to advanced therapies is often limited.
Reflecting on your accolades, such as being named one of ‘The Medicine Maker Power List 2023’ and a PharmaVOICE100 honoree, what do these recognitions mean to you personally and professionally?
Being recognized by my peers and the industry is both an honor and a humbling experience. These accolades serve as a testament to the hard work and dedication not just of myself but of all the talented individuals I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with throughout my career. On a personal level, they reaffirm my passion for science and medicine and motivate me to continue striving for excellence. Professionally, they enhance my credibility and visibility, which can be instrumental in advancing organizational goals, forging partnerships, and driving innovation in healthcare. Ultimately, these recognitions are not endpoints but milestones that remind me of our collective responsibility to keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in medicine for the betterment of patients worldwide.
Contact Details:
- Business website: candeltx.com
- Personal Website: paulpetertak.com
- Business Social Media: Linkedin
- Personal Social Media: Linkedin, X