Systemic Oncolytic Virotherapy Explained | Dr. Eric Poma, Ph.D. - CEO - Calidi Biotherapeutics

For decades, scientists have searched for better cancer drugs. But what if the biggest challenge isn't discovering the drug - it's getting it to the tumor? My guest today is developing programmable viruses designed to travel throughout the body, selectively amplify inside metastatic lesions, and transform tumors into factories for their own destruction.

Dr. Eric Poma, Ph.D. is Chief Executive Officer of Calidi Biotherapeutics ( https://www.calidibio.com/ ), a biotechnology company developing targeted genetic medicines designed to deliver therapeutic payloads directly to tumors throughout the body.

Dr. Poma brings more than three decades of experience across biotechnology, oncology drug development, business development, and capital markets. Prior to joining Calidi in 2025, he served as CEO of Molecular Templates, where he helped raise more than $250 million in equity financing and secured strategic partnerships with companies including Takeda, Vertex, and Bristol Myers Squibb.

Earlier in his career, Dr. Poma held leadership roles at ImClone Systems during the rise of targeted cancer therapies, served as Vice President of Business Development at Innovive Pharmaceuticals, and worked as a healthcare and biotechnology analyst. He holds a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an MBA from NYU's Stern School of Business.

Today we will discuss one of the most difficult challenges in oncology - how to successfully deliver powerful therapies to metastatic tumors throughout the body - and how Calidi's RedTail platform aims to use engineered oncolytic viruses as targeted delivery vehicles capable of reaching cancer cells, modifying the tumor microenvironment, and potentially enabling a new generation of genetic medicines.

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