Candel Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: CADL) announced the appointment of Mark Sims as chief commercial officer, effective July 6, 2026. Sims will lead commercial strategy and launch readiness for the company's lead drug candidate, aglatimagene besadenovec, in intermediate- to high-risk localized prostate cancer.

The appointment comes as Candel plans to submit a Biologics License Application (BLA) for aglatimagene in the fourth quarter of 2026, with a potential commercial launch targeted for 2027. Aglatimagene has not yet been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or any other regulatory authority.

Sims brings more than 25 years of oncology commercial experience. Most recently, he served as vice president and global franchise head for EGFRm Lung Cancer at AstraZeneca, where he spent eight years in various senior roles. Before that, he spent a decade at Novartis in oncology leadership positions, including vice president and global disease lead for Breast Cancer. He also held roles at Idenix Pharmaceuticals and Merck & Co.

Candel said it has adopted a partnership-driven commercial model, working with EVERSANA on commercialization and IDEA Pharma on strategic positioning. Commercial preparations are described as underway across market access, medical affairs, manufacturing, physician engagement, and launch planning.

Aglatimagene is an off-the-shelf, replication-defective adenovirus designed to induce immunogenic cell death and activate a systemic anti-tumor immune response. The company states that approximately 65,000 patients are diagnosed annually in the United States with intermediate- to high-risk localized prostate cancer and are candidates for radiotherapy-based treatment.

Aglatimagene has received FDA Fast Track Designation and Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy Designation for newly diagnosed localized prostate cancer in patients with intermediate- to high-risk disease.